60,000 Moroccan Immigrants Enter Spain, Security Forces Deployed

Spain has tightened its borders after approximately 60,000 immigrants from Morocco were reported to have breached the city of Ceuta, the country’s enclave in North Africa.

As reported on Friday (31/7), the Mayor of Ceuta, Juan Jesus Vivas, stated that this significant number of immigrants is equivalent to 70 per cent of the city’s total population. It was reported that since Thursday (30/7), the situation at the Spanish border intensified as thousands of young Moroccans gathered at the border line, with hundreds successfully entering Spain.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni indicated that she is considering ways to freeze the Schengen Area in relation to Spain regarding the immigration issue. Responding to the mass influx, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the actions, describing them as a threat to national sovereignty.

“What happened yesterday must be regarded as an attack and a violation of the territorial integrity of Spain. Ceuta is a Spanish city,” said Sánchez. He further stated that he would deploy 400 law enforcement personnel to Ceuta and ordered the installation of new border fencing along the boundary line.

Spain and Morocco are strengthening coordination for the immediate deportation of illegal immigrants in Ceuta following the surge in migration flows in the North African autonomous region. Hundreds of migrants attempted to swim and breach the borders of Ceuta, the Spanish pocket in North Africa, prompting local leaders to urge the Spanish government to intervene.