Spain: 5,000 migrants in Ceuta, efforts underway to return them to Morocco

Madrid, August 31 (KUNA) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday that approximately 5,000 illegal migrants remain in the city of Ceuta following a mass entry wave from Morocco last July, confirming that their return to Morocco is ongoing.

In an interview with the local Cadena SER radio station, Sanchez stated that around 70,000 people entered Ceuta illegally on July 30 and 31. He emphasized that the vast majority have been returned to Morocco, while more than 100 migrants were deported due to criminal offenses committed after entering the Spanish city.

He clarified that there are 1,200 unaccompanied minor migrants still in the city, noting that efforts will be made to return them in accordance with Spanish law, following requests from their families. He ruled out transferring them to mainland Spain at this time.

Sanchez stressed that the Spanish government possesses no intelligence indicating Moroccan authorities’ involvement in the mass entry wave, but affirmed that cooperation with Rabat is essential to contain the crisis. He accused networks linked to Russia, the Israeli occupation, and the far-right of spreading disinformation and exploiting the migration issue to increase polarization and extremism and to destabilize Spain.

In a related development, Sanchez announced that King Felipe VI will visit Ceuta and Melilla, without specifying a date for the trip. This will be the first visit by the Spanish monarch since he ascended the throne in 2014, and the first by a Spanish king in 20 years.

At the end of last month, Ceuta witnessed its largest-ever migrant crossing wave, with 70,000 migrants entering in an unorganized manner from Morocco. This prompted Madrid to deploy military units, reinforce security forces, and install floating barriers along the maritime border. Notably, 80 people lost their lives on the Spanish side while attempting to reach the Spanish Crown territory. (End) H.N.D./K.D.A.