Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described the mass wave of irregular migration into Ceuta as a violation of Spain’s territorial sovereignty, announcing that the process of deporting migrants who entered the country illegally has been accelerated.
Speaking about the mass irregular migration attempt in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave bordering Morocco, Sánchez said the incident constituted “a violation of Spain’s territorial sovereignty.”
Sánchez argued that human trafficking networks had interpreted a ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court in a way that served their own interests, adding that the latest developments had undermined recent progress made in reducing illegal migration.
The Spanish prime minister stated that, as of yesterday, the process of returning migrants who entered Ceuta through irregular routes had been expedited.
Sánchez also thanked the Moroccan authorities for their cooperation, noting that local officials had informed migrants about the border crossings that remained open for those wishing to return to their home countries.
He added that the Spanish government would assess whether legal amendments are necessary to ensure the deportation of undocumented migrants, while also calling on Morocco to intensify its efforts to strengthen border security.
What happened?
Spain’s Ministry of the Interior previously announced that more than 49,000 people were estimated to have crossed from Morocco into Ceuta by land and sea within the past 24 hours.
Following the crisis, the Spanish government deployed armed forces to Ceuta to reinforce security, while Sánchez said that the government had mobilized all available resources to respond to the situation.
Meanwhile, Moroccan security forces prevented thousands of irregular migrants from reaching Ceuta from the northern Moroccan city of Fnideq. Some migrants were detained, and security measures in the area were further tightened.