Ceuta Seeks National Emergency as Thousands Enter Spanish Territory
Spain said 60 troops will reinforce police after 2,000 to 3,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, overwhelming reception centers and prompting emergency calls.
- On Thursday, July 30, 2026, thousands of migrants, primarily from Morocco, breached the border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta by swimming around the Tarajal breakwater and scaling fences, overwhelming local security forces.
- Authorities attribute the surge to a June 29 Supreme Court ruling barring summary expulsions of migrants intercepted at sea; smuggling networks allegedly exploited this legal shift to encourage undocumented crossings into Spain.
- Officials confirmed at least nine deaths during the chaotic crossings, while reception facilities operated at 2,400 percent capacity with hundreds of migrants sleeping on Ceuta's streets.
- Madrid rejected national emergency declarations on legal grounds but mobilized 60 troops and 200 special police officers to restore order; Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez plans to visit Friday to assess the situation.
- The crisis mirrors the 2021 border surge involving more than 8,000 migrants, intensifying European tensions as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Schengen travel agreements with Spain to defend borders.
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Local authorities had already called on Madrid for help before Thursday's events due to the increasing number of attempts to cross the border.
The situation in the Spanish North Africa exclave Ceuta is tense after the arrival of hundreds of migrants. Also the second exclave Melilla is experiencing a rush.
Spain criticizes Italy after Italy called for Spain to be excluded from Schengen cooperation.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares reacted to Italy's demand to close the Schengen area to Spain following an attempt by irregular migrants to enter the Ceuta region.
Thousands of migrants have entered Ceuta from Morocco, prompting the deployment of soldiers to the enclave to reinforce security. At least 15 people have died trying to cross.
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