More than 5,300 migrants who remained in Ceuta following mass arrivals in July have returned to Morocco over the course of a month, according to the Spanish government. Angel Victor Torres, the minister designated to oversee the government response, stated in a video shared on social media that 5,321 individuals returned voluntarily to Morocco beginning August 10.
Criticism regarding the pace of returns from the Spanish territory of North Africa, which spans 18.5 square kilometers and houses 80,000 residents, has placed political pressure on Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ahead of elections scheduled for next year. The majority of the more than 70,000 migrants who entered Ceuta on July 30 and July 31 returned to Morocco within hours of their arrival. However, several thousand remained in the enclave, where conditions subsequently deteriorated and sparked daily protests by local residents demanding a return to normalcy.
Did You Know? The Spanish territory of Ceuta covers 18.5 square kilometers and has a population of 80,000 residents, making the sudden arrival of over 70,000 migrants in late July a profound logistical challenge for local infrastructure.
Government Procedures and Shelter Expansion
Authorities faced the task of identifying thousands of migrants who stayed for multiple weeks to assess their eligibility for asylum claims. Unaccompanied children cannot be expelled summarily under standard legal procedures. Torres reported that 90 people withdrew their applications for international protection, while nearly 1,000 individuals are currently undergoing registration to finalize their return procedures.
To address the ongoing housing shortages, the Ministry of Migrations announced the opening of 864 new slots in temporary shelters. This brings the total capacity to approximately 4,300 places, with a stated goal of reaching 6,000 spaces in the near future. Local residents have continued to stage regular demonstrations, accusing the government of abandoning the city while migrants continue sleeping in the streets and camping on local beaches.
Disputes Over Migrant Population Numbers
Disagreements persist between national officials and local authorities regarding the exact population count of remaining migrants. Torres did not provide a specific tally for those still present in Ceuta, highlighting a continuous political friction between the left-leaning national government and the conservative-led municipality. Juan Jesus Vivas, the leader of Ceuta and a member of the right-wing opposition Partido Popular (PP), estimated the remaining migrant population at 13,000 on Friday, a figure significantly higher than the government’s official assessments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many migrants returned to Morocco from Ceuta? According to the Spanish government, 5,321 people returned voluntarily to Morocco starting August 10, part of a total exceeding 5,300 returns over the span of a month.
What caused the local protests in Ceuta? The protests stemmed from a deterioration of conditions after several thousand migrants remained in the territory for weeks following the mass arrivals on July 30 and July 31, leading residents to demand a return to normal conditions.
How many temporary shelter spaces has the Ministry of Migrations added? The ministry announced the opening of 864 new spaces in temporary shelters, raising total capacity to about 4,300 with an eventual goal of reaching 6,000 spaces.
What is your perspective on how local and national authorities are managing the population figures in Ceuta?
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