Spain deploys military to Ceuta as thousands breach border

Thousands of migrants from Morocco streamed into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Thursday, overwhelming border forces by swimming around barriers, scaling fences, and rushing through unguarded gates. Spain announced it would deploy military units to reinforce police at the border after what officials described as a complete collapse of frontier security.

'Absolute Chaos' at the Border

According to the Associated Press, Spain will deploy its military to restore order at the border after thousands broke through from Morocco. Reuters reported that hundreds of youths scaled security fencing that was not being guarded by police at the time, while members of Morocco's auxiliary force responsible for ground security withdrew as the migrants passed.reuters+1

"The situation is absolute chaos. It's not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing," said Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spain's Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, adding that the border had "totally collapsed".indianexpress+1

State broadcaster TVE reported that 2,000 to 3,000 people had crossed into Ceuta in a matter of hours. Footage showed migrants shouting "Long live Spain" as they entered the territory. The migrants were mainly Moroccan nationals, including young men, unaccompanied minors, women, and families.dallasexpress+1

Emergency Declared, Army Sent In

Ceuta's leader Juan Jesús Vivas declared an "absolute humanitarian and social emergency," saying reception centers for unaccompanied minors were operating at 2,400% of capacity and that roughly 1,000 people were waiting outside the temporary reception center. Ceuta's Assembly unanimously called on Madrid to declare the crisis a matter of national security and deploy the army.dailymail+1

While Spain's Interior Ministry declined to declare a national emergency — stating that immigration flows do not qualify as a national risk under existing civil-protection law — the government confirmed it would send military units to reinforce the Civil Guard. Spanish troops arrived at Tarajal, Ceuta's main entry point, to support the 1,100 border police already stationed there. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his government was "mobilizing all necessary resources" and coordinating with Moroccan and international authorities. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska acknowledged "an extraordinary, exceptional situation" and is set to visit Ceuta on Friday.dw+4

A Supreme Court Ruling and Echoes of 2021

Ceuta authorities linked the surge to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling issued earlier in July that bars the summary return of migrants who arrive by sea, requiring full due-process protections unlike those who cross by land over fences. Vivas warned the ruling had removed a key deterrent. However, some Moroccan activists questioned whether migrants were even aware of the legal change.europeanconservative+1

The mass crossing followed more than 1,500 arrivals by sea over the preceding week, during which at least three people died. The scenes recalled May 2021, when more than 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta in two days amid a diplomatic rift between Spain and Morocco.dailymail+3