Tens of Thousands Cross Into Ceuta as Spain and Morocco Vow Returns

Tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s enclave of Ceuta in about 24 hours, officials said, as Madrid and Rabat agreed to repatriate those who entered illegally as soon as possible.

Spain’s Interior Ministry estimated about 49,000 people crossed in 24 hours, while Ceuta’s regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, put it near 60,000. The estimates have not been reconciled.

Ceuta authorities said as many as 34 people had died, many by drowning; other accounts put the toll at least 18. It was not yet confirmed.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez traveled to Ceuta on Friday, calling the crossings a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity” and linking the surge to a Supreme Court ruling that traffickers had exploited.

The crossings were a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.” — Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain

Spain reinforced the fence and deployed troops, and crossings had largely stopped by Friday, Reuters reported. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska accompanied Sánchez and stayed in contact with Moroccan counterpart Abdelouafi Laftit.

Morocco confirmed the repatriation agreement, official sources told EFE. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares spoke several times with counterpart Nasser Bourita.

Thousands of young Moroccans had gathered Thursday at the Castillejos border, EFE observed, with hundreds crossing a fence section police were not guarding as Moroccan auxiliary forces pulled back.

This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.

What We Know

• Spain and Morocco publicly confirmed an agreement to coordinate and expedite the return of people who entered Ceuta illegally.
• Spain’s Interior Ministry estimated roughly 49,000 arrivals in about 24 hours; Sánchez visited Ceuta, and Spain deployed troops and reinforced the fence.

What We Don’t Know

• A reconciled arrival figure — official (~49,000) and Ceuta’s president (~60,000) estimates diverge.
• A confirmed death toll — reports range from at least 18 to as many as 34.
• The identities of the Moroccan officials cited by EFE, and the terms and timeline of returns. An earlier Ceuta government count of 1,500 to 2,000 arrivals over the previous 10 days has been overtaken by the July 30–31 surge.