Spanish authorities announced Friday night that almost all the migrants who crossed into the Ceuta enclave from Morocco on Thursday have now returned. The rapid repatriation marks a significant reversal after an estimated tens of thousands of people breached the border. Officials also stated that travel from Ceuta or Melilla to mainland Spain requires identification checks, and that the integrity of the Schengen area is fully guaranteed.
Spanish authorities confirmed Friday night that nearly all of the estimated 50,000 migrants who crossed into the Ceuta enclave from Morocco have now returned to Morocco. The announcement comes as the crisis enters its second day, with the Spanish government asserting that the integrity of the Schengen area is fully guaranteed. Travel from Ceuta or Melilla to mainland Spain now requires identification checks at police checkpoints.
The confirmation follows a rapid repatriation process that unfolded over the past 24 hours. On Thursday evening, The Zioneer reported that the death toll from the crossing attempts had reached at least 57, and a court ruling blocked the immediate repatriation of migrants arriving by sea. By Thursday night, Spanish authorities had reported that 48,300 migrants had returned, with the figure climbing from 25,000 earlier in the day. Migrants who returned cited "hunger and oppression" within the overcrowded enclave, as The Zioneer reported.
The crisis has drawn sharp international reactions. Italy ordered the closure of sea and air borders with Spain, and France reinforced its land border, as The Zioneer reported. The Spanish government assessed that Moroccan border guards may have deliberately withdrawn to facilitate the influx, possibly as diplomatic leverage, according to El País. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, visiting the area, condemned the mass influx as a violation of Spain's territorial integrity.
It remains unclear how many migrants remain in Ceuta, with earlier estimates placing the number at around 1,800. The legal status of those who arrived by sea remains uncertain due to the court ruling. Further diplomatic and legal measures by the Spanish government are expected.
15 developments
- StrongNew court ruling blocks immediate return of migrants to Spain; local governor warns of 'chaos' as influx continues
- DevelopingEl País: Spanish government assesses Morocco directly assisted Ceuta migrant wave
- DevelopingSpanish resident of Ceuta says she is scared, calls migrant influx 'an invasion'
- DevelopingMoroccan migrants say authorities encouraged them to cross into Ceuta, NYT reports
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