Quick answer: Spain has sent army units into its North African enclave of Ceuta after roughly 60,000 people crossed the border from Morocco in a matter of days — more than half the enclave’s population. At least 34 migrants have died. It is the largest and deadliest crossing in the enclave’s recent history, and it has already caused a diplomatic rift between Spain and Italy.
Last updated: July 31, 2026
What Is Happening in Ceuta Right Now?
Spain has reinforced police in Ceuta with military units after an unprecedented surge of migrants crossed from Morocco this week. Ceuta’s regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, said at least 34 people have died attempting the crossing by land and sea. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who visited the enclave on Friday, said around 60,000 people had entered over the past few days.
State broadcaster TVE reported that between 2,000 and 3,000 people crossed on Thursday alone, a figure that could not be independently confirmed. Video from the scene showed migrants swimming or floating on inner tubes from the Moroccan side, while others broke through a land gate and ran into the city. Moroccan authorities used water cannon near the border town of Fnideq to try to hold back the crowds.
Where Is Ceuta and Why Does It Matter?
Ceuta and its sister enclave Melilla are Spanish autonomous cities on the North African coast. Together they form the European Union’s only land border with Africa, a legacy of Spain holding onto territory there after decolonization. Melilla’s border crossing was also closed on July 30 after a separate attempted mass entry.
How Many People Actually Crossed?
Estimates vary sharply depending on the source:
- Police unions and Ceuta’s president: around 20,000 entries over recent days
- Moroccan state television: 30,000 entries in a single 24-hour period (unconfirmed by Spain)
- Spain’s Interior Ministry: just under 3,000 people entered Ceuta illegally in all of 2026 through mid-July, showing how far this week’s numbers exceed the norm
Nationally, the picture looks different. Irregular arrivals across Spain as a whole actually fell in 2026, dropping from about 18,000 in the first half of 2025 to about 12,100 in the same period this year. Land arrivals into Ceuta specifically, though, rose 164 percent year-on-year. No single confirmed cause has been identified for the sudden concentration of crossings there.
What Is Spain Doing About It?
The Spanish government stopped short of declaring a national state of emergency, which some local officials had requested. Instead, it deployed army personnel under the Armed Forces’ Operations Command to support the Civil Guard. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska also traveled to Ceuta.
Morocco’s government has reportedly urged its citizens who crossed to return home. The European Commission’s home affairs chief, Magnus Brunner, said the EU was ready to boost support for Spain through the border agency Frontex and was in contact with Moroccan authorities about preventing further dangerous crossings.
Has the Crisis Caused Problems Between EU Countries?
Yes. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Rome was prepared to act to defend its own borders and raised the possibility of suspending Schengen free-movement arrangements with Spain. Madrid responded by summoning Italy’s ambassador in protest. Some Spanish opposition figures want existing sea-arrival rejection rules extended to Ceuta and Melilla, though government sources say none of this week’s arrivals would qualify for the residency-based scheme currently in place.
Security forces continued pushing back attempted crossings at Ceuta’s Tarajal beach area into Friday, even with reinforced military and police on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many migrants have died in the Ceuta crisis? At least 34 people have died attempting to cross into Ceuta by land or sea, according to the enclave’s regional president.
How many migrants crossed into Ceuta this week? Estimates range from about 20,000 (Spanish police and local officials) to 60,000 (cited by Prime Minister Sánchez) to 30,000 in a single day (unconfirmed Moroccan state media figure).
Why is Ceuta a common crossing point for migrants? Ceuta and Melilla are the only land borders between the European Union and Africa, making them a direct route from Morocco into EU territory despite high border fences and permanent security deployments.
Did Spain declare a state of emergency? No. The government deployed military units to support police but declined to declare a national emergency, a step some local officials had requested.
Why did Italy get involved? Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Schengen free-movement rules with Spain, prompting Spain to summon Italy’s ambassador in protest.
This is a fast-developing story. Casualty figures and crossing estimates from Spanish and Moroccan sources have varied and may be revised as authorities complete their assessments.