Spanish authorities began relocating hundreds of migrants from beaches in Ceuta to a new tented facility in the port area, with police firing rubber bullets and shots in the air to control crowds. About 10,000 migrants remain in the Spanish enclave following an unprecedented mass border crossing from Morocco in late July that saw 75,000-85,000 people enter the territory.
The International Organization for Migration reports that migrant arrivals to Europe by sea have dropped by over a third in 2026, but more than 2,200 people have died or disappeared on increasingly dangerous journeys. The decline comes amid tougher migration policies, though images from Spain's Ceuta enclave continue to fuel far-right support across the EU.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told parliament that Spain has found no evidence Morocco planned or facilitated July's deadly mass border breach into Ceuta, contradicting allegations in a Spanish police report. The embattled leader faces intense pressure from opposition parties and protesters over the government's handling of the crisis.
Morocco has reinforced security along its borders with the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla following social media calls for mass migrant crossings, raising concerns of a repeat of last month's surge when tens of thousands rushed the border. Spain's Civil Guard has stated the border will remain closed.
Social media platforms Meta and TikTok have agreed to fact-check content about border crossings into Spain following a massive and deadly rush to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in late July. The agreement was announced by EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen.
South Africa is pushing for Africa-wide migration discussions following violent anti-immigration protests that forced migrants to flee the country, coinciding with a separate border crisis in Spain's Ceuta where tens of thousands crossed from Morocco. The dual crises have elevated migration as a continental priority.
Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta is requesting the transfer of hundreds of unaccompanied migrant minors to mainland Spain following an unprecedented surge of approximately 72,000 migrants who crossed from Morocco in one week. The crisis has sparked diplomatic tensions, with Morocco blaming a Spanish court ruling and Spain accusing Morocco of facilitating the mass crossing.
Italy imposed border controls on Spain after approximately 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta in a single day. Spain deployed military forces and reported that 48,000 migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco, while Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez criticized Italy's response as 'selfish' and demanded an EU meeting.
Tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta over Thursday and Friday in a massive border breach, resulting in at least 67 deaths from drownings and stampedes. Spain responded by deploying military forces and installing a 500-meter containment barrier along the sea border.
