Spain moves to halve Ceuta migrant return process after talks with Morocco

Spain moves to halve Ceuta migrant return process after talks with Morocco
Friday 25 September 2026 - 13:58

Spain is preparing a legal reform that could cut the processing time for returning migrants from Ceuta by as much as half, with the government considering applying the change retroactively to people who entered during the July 30–31 crossings.

Current procedures can take up to 12 weeks, six for administrative processing and another six for judicial review. Madrid hopes to shorten both stages, with a proposal potentially reaching the Cabinet as early as Tuesday.

The move follows talks in New York between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares. Spain said Morocco reiterated its “full cooperation” on returning people who are not entitled to international protection.

Since early August, 7,533 migrants have returned from Ceuta to Morocco, including 7,099 voluntary returns and 364 expulsions, Spanish minister Ángel Víctor Torres said Thursday.

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