The Spanish Interior Ministry updated its estimate on Friday, noting that 25,000 migrants have returned from Ceuta to Morocco, out of the approximately 60,000 who crossed into the Spanish enclave in the past 24 hours, as reported by N12.
The Spanish Interior Ministry updated its assessment Friday afternoon, reporting that 25,000 migrants have returned to Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, out of the approximately 60,000 who crossed into the territory in the past 24 hours. The update confirms a total entry figure that had been reported by various sources since Thursday night, and provides a specific return number for the first time.
The crisis began with unverified reports of tens of thousands of crossings Thursday night. By late Thursday, the Interior Ministry estimated 49,000 entries, and the Ceuta governor put the number at 60,000, later warning that Moroccan soldiers were assisting and the total could reach 100,000. Unverified reports also claimed 18 migrants had been killed. The Zioneer reported at 10:56 Friday morning that the Interior Ministry had estimated 49,000 entries, and later at 15:01 that the government had said 60,000 entered. Subsequent reports, including from the Hebrew-language outlet Abu Ali Express, described Spanish police and soldiers not intervening. A court ruling blocked immediate repatriations, complicating the response.
The Zioneer has reported extensively on the migrant surge, noting that Ceuta's population surged over 60% in 24 hours as an estimated 50,000 migrants arrived. Background analysis from The Zioneer warned of an 'uninterrupted' flow and drew parallels to Israel's Oslo-era family reunification policy. Additional reports indicated that Spain has received 1.3 million applications from undocumented migrants for its mass regularization program, and that the Spanish government assesses Morocco directly assisted the wave, with Moroccan border guards disappearing for hours.
The return figure of 25,000 leaves approximately 35,000 migrants still in Ceuta, and the situation remains fluid. The earlier claim of 18 migrant deaths has not been officially confirmed. The governor's warning of a potential 100,000 crossings has not materialized. The repatriation agreement between Madrid and Rabat is in effect, but the legal challenge to immediate returns creates uncertainty.
9 developments
- DevelopingCeuta migrants seek places to sleep without property owners' consent, reports say
- DevelopingAbu Ali Express: Spanish police, soldiers not intervening in Ceuta as migrants mock authorities
- StrongUnverified report claims over 70,000 Moroccan migrants entered Spain in past day
- StrongSpanish residents curse PM Sánchez, blame him for Ceuta migrant crisis
Source and signal
- Open-source intake