Ceuta seeks army deployment and border closure over migrant surge

Authorities in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta called Thursday for the deployment of the army and the temporary closure of the border with Morocco as sustained migrant arrivals overwhelmed local services.

The demands were adopted unanimously following an emergency meeting of the Ceuta Assembly’s political leadership, bringing together representatives of the territory’s main parties.

The assembly asked Spain’s central government to declare a national emergency, establish a unified command structure and reinforce the Civil Guard and national police.

It also called for military units to support border security and for the Tarajal crossing with Morocco to be closed until the situation was brought under control.

Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas said the crisis had undergone a “qualitative change” as arrivals continued both by swimming around the maritime frontier and crossing near the Tarajal breakwater.

Hundreds of adults and minors reached Ceuta over the preceding week, with arrivals at times approaching 300 people a day, according to Vivas.

Reception centres were full, leaving some migrants sleeping outdoors.

Spain’s government rejected the initial request to activate a national civil-protection emergency, saying migration flows were not among the circumstances covered by the legislation.

Ceuta officials said they were instead seeking action under Spain’s National Security Law. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska was expected to travel to the enclave on Friday to meet officials and assess the response.

Madrid said ministries were coordinating additional border-control and humanitarian resources.

The Spanish government also defended Morocco’s role, saying Rabat was cooperating closely and that Moroccan security forces were preventing numerous attempted crossings.

The influx has revived memories of May 2021, when around 8,000 people entered Ceuta over approximately 36 hours during a diplomatic dispute between Madrid and Rabat.