CEUTA, Spain – Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reportedly ordered the National Police to disperseby force a group of Spanish protesters gathered near the Ceuta heliport during Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s visit to the autonomous city. The police intervention occurred as dozens of demonstrators protested the government’s handling of the massive influx of migrants and the cancellation of the Ceuta Fair, directing chants against the head of the executive upon his arrival.
Italy Suspends Schengen Agreement with Spain
Sánchez landed in the city shortly before noon, accompanied by Grande-Marlaska and flanked by a heavy security detail comprising National Police and Civil Guard agents. The Prime Minister had previously flown on a Falcon jet to Málaga before transferring to a Super Puma helicopter for the final leg to Ceuta. During the gathering, attendees shouted accusations at the Prime Minister, claiming he had abandoned border defenses and harmed the city with his migration policies. The departure of the official motorcade was marked by moments of tension as officers intervened to clear the route for the official vehicle.
Following his departure from the heliport, the Prime Minister traveled to the Tarajal border area. There, he held a meeting with commanders of the State Security Forces to receive a firsthand briefing on the evolution of the security operation deployed in response to the massive arrival of individuals from Morocco.
La Policía carga contra españoles indignados en Ceuta.
— David Santos (@davidsantosvlog) July 31, 2026
No he visto ni un solo video de un palo a un ilegal en estas horas. pic.twitter.com/4bl5Twa4aE
The official agenda subsequently moved to the Assembly Palace, where Sánchez was scheduled to meet with the President of the Autonomous City, Juan Jesús Vivas; the Government Delegate, Miguel Ángel Pérez; and senior officials from the National Police, Civil Guard, the Temporary Center for Immigrants (CETI), and the Red Cross. Prior to his arrival, authorities erected security barriers and cleared migrants from several sections of Alcalde Sánchez Prado avenue, an area where a citizen protest against the government’s management had also been convened.
The presidential visit coincides with one of the most severe migration crises recorded in the Spanish enclave. According to an initial estimate circulated by the National Security Department (DSN) in a document that was later withdrawn, approximately 49,000 people are believed to have entered Ceuta irregularly during Thursday alone. The central government has yet to release an official figure regarding the total number of entries.
Von der Leyen Demands Fast Returns as Ceuta Migrant Crisis Nears Breaking Point
The emergency has also exacted a severe human toll. The Civil Guard recovered the bodies of 19 individuals who died while attempting to reach the shores of Ceuta by swimming along the Tarajal breakwater. These recoveries occurred as security and emergency services continued their relentless efforts to manage a situation that continues to place the autonomous city under immense strain.
