Ceuta: 49 migrants in 24 hours, 18 deaths: Italy and Spain clash over Schengen suspension

The migrant crisis affecting Ceuta , an autonomous Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa, has reached unprecedented proportions. Thousands of people have crossed the border from Morocco in the last few hours, entering Spanish territory by land or swimming to the enclave's beaches, particularly in the Tarajal area.

According to estimates from Spanish ministerial sources, approximately 49 migrants entered Ceuta in the space of 24 hours . This figure, however, has not yet been definitively confirmed by the Interior Ministry in Madrid and must therefore be considered provisional.

A city of 85 inhabitants overwhelmed by arrivals

The scale of the phenomenon is even more evident when compared to Ceuta's overall population of approximately 85 residents . The estimated arrivals therefore represent more than half of the autonomous city's inhabitants, with immediate consequences for reception, public order, and the capacity of emergency services.

Parks, gardens, sidewalks, and public parking entrances have been transformed into makeshift shelters. Hundreds of people, including many minors, have spent the night outdoors, while shelters are now saturated and unable to handle such a large influx.

At least 7 minors are under the protection of the authorities

Among those who managed to enter Spanish territory are at least 7 minors , now under the protection of the autonomous city's authorities. This figure further exacerbates the emergency, requiring the activation of specific procedures for the identification, assistance, and protection of children arriving without family members.

The presence of thousands of minors represents one of the most sensitive issues for the local administration, already struggling with a shortage of available places, specialized personnel, and adequate facilities to ensure dignified conditions.

The number of people who drowned rises to 18.

Alongside the humanitarian emergency, the death toll is rising. The Guardia Civil reported that at least 18 bodies have been recovered from the sea , those who died while attempting to swim to Ceuta from Moroccan territory.

The victims are believed to have drowned in the waters near the Tarajal breakwater and along the stretch of coast separating Morocco from the Spanish enclave. Search operations are ongoing, and it is not ruled out that the death toll could rise as more bodies are found.

Swimming across currents and breakwaters

Many migrants braved the short but dangerous stretch of sea using inflatable boats, mattresses, improvised life jackets, and other makeshift means. Others attempted to swim around the breakwaters marking the maritime border, exposing themselves to the currents and the risk of being swept out to sea.

Spanish naval units and rescue services worked nonstop, but the huge number of people in the water made their interventions particularly difficult. According to testimonies gathered on site, emergency teams were often able to provide assistance only to those who were injured or in more serious conditions.

The flow continues even during the night

The crossings didn't stop with sunset. Thousands of people also crossed the border during the night, initially taking advantage of limited opposition from Moroccan security forces.

Since dawn on July 31, dozens of migrants have continued to pour into the sea, while other convoys of people have attempted to cross by land into the Tarajal industrial zone. Footage broadcast by Spanish broadcasters shows large groups moving toward the border and patrols busy containing new attempts to enter.

Rabat strengthens controls along the border

After an initial phase characterised by less stringent controls, the Moroccan authorities have strengthened the security measures in the Fnideq area , formerly known by the Spanish name of Castillejos and located immediately adjacent to Ceuta.

The Moroccan gendarmerie deployed multiple police cordons and deployed riot control equipment, including water cannons, to disperse the crowds gathered near the border. Madrid has spoken of close collaboration with Rabat to stop new arrivals and organize the repatriation of those who entered illegally.

Clashes and stone throwing in Ceuta and Melilla

Tensions have also spread to the border areas of Ceuta and Melilla , the two autonomous Spanish cities that represent the European Union's only land borders with the African continent.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights reported clashes that occurred in the early hours of July 31. In Fnideq, some groups reportedly attempted to breach the fence, throwing stones at security forces deployed in the area.

Hundreds of young people try to enter Melilla

Incidents were also reported near the Beni Nsar crossing in the Moroccan province of Nador, bordering Melilla. Hundreds of young people, many of them minors, reportedly attempted to enter the enclave either through the land barrier or through the port area.

Moroccan and Spanish security forces intervened to prevent border crossings. The clashes led to moments of high tension, while the migratory pressure, initially concentrated mainly on Ceuta, began to affect the second Iberian enclave.

The Beni-Enzar border has been closed.

The main crossing between Melilla and Morocco, Beni-Enzar , was closed after an attempted mass entry that began late in the evening of July 30. According to the president of the autonomous city, Juan José Imbroda, between 300 and 400 people managed to enter.

Imbroda spoke of a possible "copycat effect" caused by images of mass crossings in Ceuta. The border closure has also caused significant disruption to commuters, residents, tourists, and North African citizens involved in Operation Strait Crossing, the plan that regulates summer travel between Europe and North Africa.

Madrid mobilizes the army and the Guardia Civil

The Spanish government has decided to mobilize units of the Armed Forces present in Ceuta to support the Guardia Civil and ensure security in the city. The troops will operate under the coordination of the operational command and may be deployed for activities necessary for border control.

New platoons, reinforcements from Andalusia, units specialized in underwater operations, patrol boats, light vessels, drone pilots, and an air service helicopter have been added to the military and police already deployed.

Increased rescue, patrols and identification

Madrid also announced the arrival of the Duque de Ahumada vessel , intended to strengthen maritime operations in the waters of Ceuta. New crews, naval mechanics, and divers from the Special Group for Underwater Activities have also been added.

The National Police sent a specialized team to support identification and documentation operations. Intervention and prevention unit personnel doubled shifts, employing overtime to ensure a continuous presence at the city's most sensitive points.

Sánchez in Ceuta to coordinate the response

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arrived in Ceuta with Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. The prime minister met with security forces at the Tarajal crossing and held a meeting with local authorities.

Sánchez assured that the government is committed to providing an immediate response to the crisis, mobilizing all available resources and working with Moroccan and international authorities to regain control of the situation.

Requests for a state of national emergency

The president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas , has asked the central government to consider declaring a national state of emergency. According to the local administration, the measure is necessary to address a crisis that has exceeded the city's operational and organizational capacity.

Vivas called for further strengthening of the police and army forces, arguing that border control and population security cannot be guaranteed solely through the resources ordinarily present on the ground.

Residents protest in the center of Ceuta

Hundreds of citizens gathered in Plaza de los Reyes , in front of the government headquarters, to protest the management of the emergency. The demonstration, organized through social networks and messaging services, brought together residents concerned about the collapse of services and the situation on the streets.

During the rally, slogans against the central government and local authorities were chanted. Some protesters demanded that the police forces present in the city center be immediately transferred to the border to strengthen security.

The precedent of the 2021 migration crisis

The situation is reminiscent of the May 2021 crisis, when thousands of people entered Ceuta in just a few days after Morocco eased controls. Madrid deployed its army and launched a complex repatriation operation.

The 2021 crisis occurred during a period of heightened diplomatic tension between Spain and Morocco, sparked by the admission of Brahim Ghali, leader of the Polisario Front, to a Spanish hospital. Relations between Madrid and Rabat were only restored in the following months.

The ruling on immediate rejections

According to local associations and observers, the increase in entry attempts was also fueled by a recent Spanish judicial decision regarding the immediate rejection of people who swim to Ceuta and Melilla.

The belief that crossing the border would be easier was also fueled by smuggling networks and the spread of messages on social media. Thousands of young people, lacking legal routes to reach Europe, have thus decided to attempt the crossing.

Poverty and lack of prospects are the reasons for departures

Behind the crossings lie difficult economic conditions, unemployment, and a lack of prospects, especially among young people. Associations active in the area emphasize how many people see Ceuta as the closest gateway to the European Union.

The lack of regular entry channels forces many migrants to rely on extremely dangerous routes. Swimming, despite covering a relatively short distance, can be lethal due to currents, fatigue, crowding, and the lack of adequate equipment.

Italy is considering suspending Schengen with Spain.

The crisis has prompted a harsh intervention from the Italian government. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that she had discussed the situation with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and stated that Italy is considering extraordinary measures, including suspending the Schengen area with Spain.

Meloni called the images from Ceuta a demonstration of the risks associated with uncontrolled irregular immigration, reiterating the Italian government's position on border protection, combating traffickers, and strengthening repatriations.

Tajani in favor of closing the Schengen area

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed his support for closing the Schengen area with Spain, arguing that irregular and uncontrolled immigration poses a threat to national security.

The Foreign Minister also criticized the Spanish government's policy on regularization and the granting of citizenship. Tajani attributed Madrid's decision to grant Spanish, and therefore European, citizenship to over 500 undocumented immigrants, arguing that such a decision could encourage new influxes and favor criminal organizations.

The harsh response of Spanish Minister Albares

The Italian statements provoked an immediate reaction from Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares . The Spanish foreign minister called Tajani's message inappropriate and unworthy, accusing the Italian government of engaging in partisan demagogy rather than showing European solidarity.

Albares stressed that Spain expects support from a friendly country and partner of the European Union, especially at a time of humanitarian emergency and severe pressure on its external borders.

The Italian ambassador to Madrid has been summoned.

The Spanish government has therefore summoned the Italian ambassador to Spain, Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi , to formally express its protest. The decision marks the beginning of a diplomatic crisis between Rome and Madrid, two countries linked by consolidated political, economic, and institutional relations.

Summoning an ambassador is one of the diplomatic tools used to communicate an official protest and request clarification on the positions expressed by a foreign government.

The legal issue of the suspension of Schengen

The idea put forward by Italy concerns the possible reintroduction of internal border controls with Spain. The Schengen Area allows free movement between member states, but provides for the possibility of temporarily reintroducing border controls in the event of serious threats to security or public order.

A possible suspension would not automatically lead to a complete closure of connections, but it would introduce stricter checks for those traveling from Spain to Italy, including those transiting through airports, ports, and land connections with other European countries.

The European Commission is following the crisis

The European Commission stated that it is closely monitoring developments in Ceuta. Brussels reiterated the importance of protecting the Union's external borders, combating irregular immigration, and preventing abuse of European procedures.

The Community executive recalled that it had already supported Spain financially and operationally and said it was ready to offer further technical assistance, including through the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex.

Brussels supports cooperation between Spain and Morocco

The Commission welcomed the cooperation between Madrid and Rabat to limit crossings and organize returns in compliance with applicable rules. Morocco was identified as a key partner of the European Union in border management and the fight against human trafficking.

The relevant European Commissioner is in contact with the Spanish Minister of the Interior to assess operational needs and possible increased Community assistance.

The White House re-releases images of Ceuta

Images of the crossings have also been used in the political debate on immigration in the United States. White House officials have reposted videos from Ceuta on social media to support President Donald Trump 's restrictive policies.

White House counsel Stephen Miller and communications director Steven Cheung pointed to the events in the Spanish enclave as an example of the consequences they believe would result from weakening border controls.

A humanitarian and political crisis destined to weigh on Europe

The Ceuta crisis is not just about Spain's ability to control a particularly vulnerable border. The mass arrivals, the growing number of victims, the presence of thousands of minors, and the collapse of reception facilities pose a humanitarian issue that affects the entire European Union.

At the same time, the clash between Italy and Spain demonstrates how the issue of migration continues to divide European governments. The management of the emergency, relations with Morocco, repatriations, and the possible reintroduction of internal controls within Schengen will be at the center of the political and diplomatic debate in the coming hours.