10's of Thousands of Migrants Surge into Spanish Enclave of Ceuta; Military Deployed as Authorities Struggle to Regain Control (Video)

Spanish authorities have deployed military forces to the North African enclave of Ceuta after a massive surge of migrants crossed from Morocco by land and sea, overwhelming local border controls and prompting declarations of a humanitarian emergency.

On Thursday and into Friday, large numbers of people entered the Spanish territory, which shares a land border with Morocco and has a resident population of roughly 83,000. While initial reports put the number of arrivals on Thursday in the range of 2,000 to 3,000, later estimates released by Spanish interior ministry sources and the national security department climbed far higher, with some official figures citing more than 40,000 and as many as 49,000 people entering over roughly 24 hours. At least 18 people were reported dead in connection with the crossings, with some accounts citing higher fatalities among those who attempted to swim around barriers.

Video and eyewitness accounts showed crowds swimming or using inflatable devices and flotation aids to reach beaches, while others scaled fences, pushed through gates, or crossed on foot. Many of those who arrived were described across multiple reports as military aged men with very few women and children present. Reception facilities quickly became saturated, with thousands sleeping outdoors in parks and streets.

Ceuta’s regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, declared a “total humanitarian and social emergency,” warning that the situation was deteriorating by the hour and appealing to the central government in Madrid for a national emergency declaration and the deployment of additional police and armed forces. The Spanish government responded by sending military units and specialized police to reinforce the Civil Guard, secure the border, and assist with order. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska planned to visit the enclave. Spanish authorities said they were coordinating with Morocco to facilitate the return of irregular migrants through existing bilateral mechanisms “as soon as possible.”

The surge followed a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limited the summary return of migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or the nearby enclave of Melilla. Local officials and border personnel described a sharp acceleration in arrivals after a period of smaller-scale crossings. Businesses closed in parts of the city amid the chaos, and tensions rose between residents and new arrivals in some areas.

The episode recalls a 2021 crisis in which roughly 10,000 people entered Ceuta in a short period. European partners expressed concern about secondary movements. Italian officials, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, raised the possibility of tighter controls on travelers from Spain, while France announced reinforced checks along its border with Spain. The European Commission reiterated the importance of protecting the EU’s external borders.

Spanish authorities continued efforts to process arrivals, provide emergency assistance, and work with Moroccan counterparts on returns. The scale of the influx—whether measured in the lower or higher estimates—placed extraordinary pressure on a small territory and tested Spain’s capacity to manage sudden large-scale irregular migration at its North African frontiers.