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16h ago

Leaked Police Report Deepens Ceuta Crisis

Claims that Moroccan forces showed 'permissiveness' threaten Madrid‑Rabat cooperation on migration and raise questions about Spain’s ability to manage returns.

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CEUTA, SPAIN - JULY 31: Undocumented migrants, mostly young men, who entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta illegally, begin returning to Morocco after realizing their chances of obtaining legal status in Spain are unlikely on July 31, 2026. Meanwhile, small groups of migrants continue trying to cross into Ceuta by swimming or climbing the breakwater surrounding the Fnideq coast. More than 48,300 of the approximately 50,000 migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta since early Thursday have returned to Morocco by Friday afternoon, Spain's Interior Ministry said, according to EFE news agency. (Photo by Abu Adem Muhammed/Anadolu via Getty Images)
MALAGA, SPAIN - 2026/09/02: Thousands of protesters are seen waving Spanish and Ceuta flags as they take part in a protest in solidarity with ceuta people, coinciding with Ceuta city day. The mass crossing of migrants into the city of Ceuta from Morocco has prompted several Spanish cities to call rallies and demonstrations in support of Ceuta and national sovereignty, as well as against the Spanish government's management. (Photo by Jesus Merida/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives at the parliament for a session to address the mass crossing of migrants into the enclave of Ceuta in late July, in Madrid, Spain, September 3, 2026. REUTERS/Susana Vera

Overview

  • Roughly 70,000–80,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on July 30–31, overwhelming local services and causing scores of deaths as many tried to reach the city by sea.
  • A judicially commissioned National Centre for Immigration and Borders (CENIF) police document says satellite images and migrant testimony show Moroccan security forces were deployed in smaller numbers than usual and in some cases offered instructions that enabled sea entries.
  • Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told parliament he has seen no solid evidence that Morocco planned the surge, pledged to publish all files related to the incident, and said cooperation with Rabat remains necessary to deport unauthorized migrants.
  • Tens of thousands of people protested across Spain this week demanding accountability, opposition parties have called for resignations, and the government revised the death toll to 141 while several thousand migrants remain in makeshift camps in Ceuta.
  • The dispute threatens diplomatic ties with Morocco, complicates planned returns because of legal and human‑rights constraints, and increases pressure on the EU to provide Frontex, judicial and humanitarian support to stabilize Ceuta.