CEUTA, Spain – Nearly two weeks after the mass entry of 80,000 migrants into Ceuta, the crisis remains far from resolved, with thousands of people still wandering the city’s streets and a potential new border assault looming on August 15.
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While the government has boasted of returning the majority of those who crossed the border within 48 hours, the situation on the ground remains deeply complicated. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska claimed on Monday that 72,000 people had entered Spanish territory on July 30, with 70,000 having since returned to Morocco. However, these figures have been contradicted by the Ceuta authorities, who estimate that between 8,000 and 11,000 migrants remain in the city.
Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres acknowledged the discrepancy during a press conference, confirming that approximately 80,000 people had crossed irregularly, a figure that aligns more closely with the Ceuta government’s assessment. The Ceuta government has described the situation as “absolutely unsustainable, unacceptable, and intolerable,” with thousands of people wandering the streets, unable to meet their basic needs, generating insecurity, and disrupting the normal functioning of services.
Ceuta’s President, Juan José Vivas, has called on the national government to assume unified command of the crisis, implement a state-level plan, and establish a temporary migrant detention centre to process and expedite expulsion proceedings. He has also requested reinforcements for the Foreign Affairs, Justice, Prosecutor’s Office, and Police departments, along with a substantial increase in State Security Forces personnel. Vivas has warned that neighbourhoods have become “uninhabitable,” citing reports from local residents.
The situation is further complicated by the continuing presence of unaccompanied minors, with Torres acknowledging on Monday that the number of registered minors has risen to 1,400 and is expected to increase further. Many of these minors remain in police custody or are queuing at police stations for identification, with Torres admitting that he could not provide a definitive figure.
Health services are also under strain, with President Vivas warning of a “10% increase in the population” of Ceuta due to the crisis. Health Minister Mónica García has dismissed concerns, insisting there is no health crisis and that Ceuta and Melilla have “more resources than ever” with a 70% budget increase. However, the Official College of Physicians of Ceuta has reported a state of “collapse,” with emergency services where seven doctors are forced to attend to 400 to 500 people daily, raising concerns about potential outbreaks of cholera, tuberculosis, measles, or infectious diarrhoea.
Adding to the uncertainty, authorities are closely monitoring social media calls for a new border assault on August 15, with messages using slogans such as “15/08” and “al-hajma” appearing on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Groups with up to 400,000 members have been detected spreading these calls. While Civil Guard sources have stated that any new incident is unlikely to match the scale of the July 30 event due to the extensive security deployment, the potential for further unrest remains a significant concern.
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In response to the exceptional situation, both the Interior and Defence Ministries have cancelled leave for military personnel and officers deployed in Ceuta from August 13, except in exceptional cases. The security deployment currently includes nearly 300 riot police, more than 200 Civil Guard officers, and 2,000 soldiers. Torres confirmed that Civil Guard numbers have been reinforced by 40% and National Police by 30%, with support from the Armed Forces. Authorities continue to urge caution and calm, but the underlying tensions and unresolved issues suggest that the crisis is far from over.
