Moroccans stranded in Ceuta protest, demand asylum and reject return

Moroccan migrants who remain stranded in Ceuta after the recent mass entry have taken to the streets to demand asylum and reject any return to Morocco, El Faro de Ceuta reported Sunday.

The protesters are living in makeshift huts at Trampolín beach, where a growing settlement now has nearly 100 shelters shared by Moroccans and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

With the CETI migrant center at full capacity, many of those who remain in the enclave have been left outside the official reception system.

The group staged several peaceful demonstrations, waving Spanish flags and holding banners that read “We want asylum,” “No return to Morocco” and “We are human beings.” They also chanted “Asylum, asylum!” as they called for protection from Spanish authorities.

The protests come as Moroccan migrants who had been staying at the CETI have seen asylum applications rejected, increasing fears among those still in Ceuta that they could eventually be sent back to Morocco.

The situation also reflects a wider standoff over what will happen to people who entered the Spanish enclave during the mass influx. While some Moroccans have agreed to voluntary returns, others have chosen to remain in Ceuta and seek a way to stay.

On Sunday morning, some protesters attempted to leave the settlement and walk toward the center of Ceuta. Spanish soldiers stopped the group preventing the march from continuing.

Police have maintained a presence around the area as authorities seek to prevent the demonstrations from spreading while dealing with the large number of migrants who remain in the enclave.

The migrants have built the shelters themselves with members of the sub-Saharan community, creating an informal settlement along the beach as they wait for their situation to be resolved.

Their demands put them at odds with Spain’s stated policy on people who enter Ceuta and Melilla irregularly. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has said those who enter the enclaves irregularly will not be allowed to remain there, move to mainland Spain or be regularized, except in exceptional cases covered by national and international law.