Spain’s Ceuta Seeks State of Emergency Amid Migrant Surge
Authorities in Ceuta, Spain’s autonomous enclave in North Africa, have called on the Spanish government to declare a national state of emergency after more than 2,000 migrants arrived in the territory over the past 10 days.
According to Spanish media, hundreds of migrants swam across the border from Morocco in the early hours of July 30, with most identified as young Moroccan nationals. Some were women, and many were reportedly exhausted after swimming around the border barriers separating the two territories.
Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas said the sharp rise in arrivals has placed severe pressure on shelters and humanitarian services, particularly due to the growing number of migrants claiming to be minors. Authorities also confirmed that two more people drowned during the latest crossings, bringing the total number of deaths along the route to 29 since the beginning of 2026.
Ceuta, along with Melilla, is one of Spain’s two territories bordering mainland Africa and remains a key gateway for irregular migration into the European Union.