Spain has deployed troops to strengthen security in the North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants swam from Morocco into the territory on Thursday.
The chaotic crossing saw at least 15 people drown. Local officials had called for Madrid’s help after a recent rise in attempted crossings, but the border controls appeared to collapse.
A judgment by Spain’s Supreme Court this month ruled that migrants stranded at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or its sister enclave Melilla cannot be summarily returned to Morocco.
The interior ministry accused human‑trafficking networks of exploiting the situation to "encourage the flow of undocumented migrants".
"The armed forces will reinforce the Civil Guard in the exercise of its powers and any others that may be necessary to maintain security in the city of Ceuta," the ministry announced.
Ceuta, separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar, has long been a focal point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Italy’s government has reacted by considering "extraordinary measures", including suspending the open Schengen border agreement with Spain, citing the images from Ceuta as evidence of a security threat.
Thousands of people slid down concrete embankments into the sea to bypass the jetty that marks the border. The beaches on the Spanish side were soon littered with rubber rings and flippers—some migrants celebrated their arrival, while others drowned.
It is unclear what prompted this surge or how hard Moroccan authorities tried to prevent it; a Spanish official once declared the border in total collapse.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to visit the enclave on Friday and has pledged to restore normalcy immediately.
Migrant reception centres are overwhelmed, and local authorities have accused Madrid of being too slow to react.
Spanish media estimate between 2,000 and 3,000 people entered Ceuta on Thursday, though the Guardia Civil had not confirmed the figure. Unconfirmed reports of clashes emerged late Thursday, while in the Moroccan town of Fnideq water cannons were fired at migrants attempting to cross.
In Melilla, footage suggested clashes at the Beni Ansar border point. The surge has been compared to May 2021, when 8,000 people entered Ceuta over days, further straining diplomatic relations with Morocco.
Spanish authorities have increased security around the enclaves in recent years through enhanced surveillance, reinforced barriers, and better bilateral relations, but crossings persist.
