Spain returns over 37,500 migrants to Morocco as Ceuta crisis deepens

More than 37,500 migrants who entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta have returned to Morocco, representing roughly 75% of those who crossed during the unprecedented mass border surge, according to Spain's Interior Ministry. The returns, occurring at a rate of 150 people per minute, came after an estimated 60,000 people poured into the tiny Spanish territory beginning Thursday morning.cbsnews+2

Sánchez Announces Emergency Measures

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez travelled to Ceuta on Friday and described the mass crossings as "a violation of Spain's territorial integrity". He announced plans to deploy buoys along the sea breakwater to create a physical barrier, enabling immediate returns while complying with a July 8 Spanish Supreme Court ruling that banned summary expulsions of migrants arriving by sea without encountering man-made obstacles.euronews+1

"We will expedite the repatriation files of the migrants who arrived irregularly," Sánchez said, adding that the government may "modify certain aspects of the laws to guarantee those border repatriations as efficiently as possible". Spain deployed military forces and sent diver teams and Maritime Service vessels to reinforce security.cbsnews

Local officials have linked the surge to the Supreme Court ruling, which made it harder to turn away migrants arriving from Morocco by sea. Ceuta's regional president Juan Jesús Vivas called the situation "absolutely unsustainable" and said at least 34 people had died, with the death toll later climbing to 57.moroccoworldnews+1

European Fallout

The crisis triggered political reverberations across Europe. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for suspending Spain from the Schengen free-movement zone, prompting Spain to summon Italy's ambassador. Denmark and Finland backed Italy's call. France announced tightened border checks with Spain, while Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz demanded Morocco "take back illegal migrants immediately".news.yahoo

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner sought to calm fears, stating that no migrant movements toward the European continent had been observed and that Frontex stood ready to support Spain. Many who returned to Morocco voluntarily said they could not find food or shelter in the overwhelmed enclave, whose normal population is just under 83,000.english.elpais+3