Bioreports: . News articles! Spain is deploying its military to the North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants overwhelmed the territory’s border with Morocco, prompting a major security response as officials confirmed at least 18 people died during the crossings. The Spanish government said the armed forces will support the Civil Guard in restoring order after local officials warned the city could no longer handle the influx. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska are expected to visit Ceuta as Madrid scrambles to contain the crisis. The surge marks one of the largest migrant waves to hit Ceuta since 2src21, when more than 8,srcsrcsrc people entered the Spanish territory over two days, triggering a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco.
“The situation is absolute chaos,” Rachid Sbihi, who heads an association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, told The Associated Press. “It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing.”
WHITE HOUSE BLASTS SPANISH GOVERNMENT AS THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS SURGE FROM MOROCCO, EMERGENCY REQUEST DENIED
Migrants celebrate and make their way toward Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta after crossing from Morocco on Thursday.
(Bioreports)
More Read
Spain’s government delegation in Ceuta said at least 18 people died Thursday, though officials did not immediately explain the circumstances. According to the Bioreports, bodies were seen floating in the water as rescue and security operations continued. Video from the area showed large groups of migrants entering Ceuta through the Tarajal border area, with many arriving by swimming around coastal barriers separating Morocco from Spanish territory. Most appeared to be young men, though families with women and children were also among those crossing. OVERCROWDED MIGRANT VESSEL WITH 24src PEOPLE ON BOARD INTERCEPTED NEAR TURKS AND CAICOS
Spanish security forces stand guard as people attempt to cross from the Moroccan town of Fnideq into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on July 3src, 2src26.
Spain announced it would deploy its military after thousands of migrants surged into the territory. (Bioreports Photo/undefined)
More Read
Spanish authorities said Morocco is cooperating with efforts to regain control of the border.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said Moroccan police have intercepted numerous migrants attempting to cross and that both governments are working to return those who entered the territory illegally as quickly as possible. Authorities have not identified a single cause for the sudden surge, though Ceuta officials have pointed to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limits the immediate return of migrants who arrive by sea without due process. Some migration advocates, however, questioned whether the ruling alone could explain the dramatic increase, arguing many migrants would likely have been unaware of the decision. The crisis has reverberated beyond Spain. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy’s participation in the Schengen open-border agreement with Spain, saying the move would be necessary “to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens.”
EU ADMITS IT ‘DIDN’T HAVE CONTROL’ ON MIGRATION AS BLOC RUSHES CRACKDOWN AHEAD OF NEW RULES
Security forces stand guard along the border as people attempt to cross from the Moroccan town of Fnideq into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on July 3src, 2src26. Spain later announced it would deploy its military following the mass migrant surge.
(Bioreports Photo/undefined)
Ceuta, a small Spanish territory on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, has long been one of Europe’s most active migration flashpoints.
More Read
Migrants from across Africa regularly attempt to reach the enclave by swimming from Morocco or scaling the heavily fortified border fence in hopes of gaining entry into the European Union. Spain’s Interior Ministry said nearly 3,srcsrcsrc migrants had entered Ceuta by land or sea this year through mid-July, before this week’s crossings dramatically increased those figures. -
. News Digital has reached out to Spain’s Embassy in Washington, the Department of Homeland Security, the Center for Immigration Studies and the Migration Policy Institute for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Brittany Miller is a . News Digital breaking news writer and former Independent reporter who graduated from Syracuse University in 2src23.
