Spain deploys army to Ceuta after massive border crossing from Morocco

Spain has deployed military units to reinforce security in Ceuta after a Ceuta border crossing brought thousands of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave within hours. Authorities said migrants entered by swimming around barriers, climbing border fences and passing through unsecured gates, overwhelming border forces and triggering what officials described as a complete collapse of border security.

According to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, hundreds of young migrants climbed security fences while members of Morocco’s auxiliary security forces reportedly withdrew as crowds advanced. Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spanish Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, described the situation as “absolute chaos” and said it was impossible to provide an accurate count because thousands were continuing to cross.

Spanish public broadcaster TVE estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 people entered Ceuta over several hours. Video footage showed migrants chanting “Long live Spain” as they arrived. Most of those crossing were reported to be Moroccan nationals, including young men, unaccompanied minors, women and families.

Ceuta regional president Juan Jesús Vivas declared what he called an “absolute humanitarian and social emergency.” Reception facilities for unaccompanied minors were reportedly operating at 2,400 percent of their intended capacity, while around 1,000 people were waiting outside the temporary reception center. Ceuta’s assembly unanimously called on Madrid to classify the situation as a national security issue and authorize military deployment.

Spain’s Interior Ministry declined to declare a national state of emergency, arguing that current migration flows do not meet the legal threshold established under civil protection legislation. Nevertheless, the government confirmed the deployment of military units to support the Civil Guard. Spanish soldiers arrived at the Tarajal border crossing, joining approximately 1,100 border officers already stationed in the enclave.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his government was mobilizing all necessary resources while coordinating with Moroccan and international authorities. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described the events as an “extraordinary and exceptional situation” and announced plans to travel to Ceuta.

Local authorities linked the latest migration surge to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling issued earlier in July that prevents the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea and instead requires full procedural guarantees before removal. Officials in Ceuta argued that the decision weakened an important deterrent, although some Moroccan activists questioned whether migrants were aware of the legal change before attempting the crossing.

The latest arrivals followed more than 1,500 sea arrivals during the previous week, a period in which at least three people died. The events revived memories of the May 2021 migration crisis, when more than 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta over two days amid diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco.