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Spain is grappling with a fresh migration crisis after thousands of migrants crossed overnight from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa, overwhelming local authorities and prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to travel to the territory to coordinate the government’s response.
According to a police source, about **40,000 migrants** have entered Ceuta in recent days, an extraordinary influx for the enclave, which has a population of roughly 80,000 people. Many of the arrivals reached Spanish territory by swimming around the border fence separating Morocco from Ceuta.
The surge has placed enormous pressure on Spanish authorities and triggered concerns across Europe, with France announcing tighter border checks along its frontier with Spain to curb any secondary movement of migrants.
To strengthen security, the Spanish government has deployed troops to the enclave, while Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska were scheduled to visit the Tarajal border crossing on Friday to assess the situation firsthand.
Witnesses described scenes of hundreds of men, women and children entering Ceuta by sea, abandoning flotation devices and clothing after successfully reaching Spanish soil.
Police confirmed that **18 people have died** while attempting the dangerous crossing.
“There was a steady stream of people all night long,” a police source said, adding that migrants “continued to arrive overnight and are still arriving.”
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Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the latest migration surge. However, similar scenes unfolded in 2021 when Morocco relaxed border controls during a diplomatic dispute with Spain, allowing thousands of migrants to enter Ceuta within two days.
The latest crisis has also sparked diplomatic tensions within Europe. Italy has called for Spain’s suspension from the Schengen free-travel zone, arguing that the influx poses broader security concerns. Spain responded by summoning the Italian ambassador and accusing Rome of exploiting the situation for political purposes.
Meanwhile, officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump also referenced footage from Ceuta while reiterating their hardline stance on immigration.
Ceuta and the nearby Spanish enclave of Melilla are the European Union’s only land borders with Africa and have long served as key entry points for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Many of the newly arrived migrants were seen celebrating their arrival, thanking Spanish police officers and chanting, “Bye bye Morocco, hello Spain.”
While Moroccan authorities have yet to issue an official statement, a Moroccan government source confirmed that officials from both countries had discussed the unfolding situation.
The migration crisis comes as Spain and Morocco continue efforts to stabilise diplomatic relations following years of disputes over Western Sahara and border management.
