Spanish Prime Minister: What happened in Ceuta is a violation of Spain's sovereignty over its territory

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez affirmed that what occurred yesterday in Ceuta, on the border with Morocco, constituted “a violation of Spanish sovereignty over its territory.” Sánchez added in statements released today: “We are accelerating the process of returning migrants who entered Ceuta irregularly since yesterday.” He continued: “I thank the Moroccan authorities for their readiness to cooperate in the repatriation of migrants.”

It is worth noting that the Spanish-administered city of Ceuta, located on Morocco’s northern coast, is experiencing one of the largest waves of irregular migration in its history, after tens of thousands of Maghrebi migrants stormed the Spanish enclave within hours. This development has brought the border crisis between the two countries back to the forefront, triggering widespread alarm in Madrid and across Europe.

Spanish authorities announced that approximately 60,000 migrants managed to cross into Ceuta, after thousands reached the city by swimming or breaching border barriers, in an unprecedented scene that placed immense pressure on security forces and public services.

The surge in crossings followed a court ruling that prohibited the immediate repatriation of migrants intercepted at sea, a move that observers said encouraged increased attempts to reach Spanish territory.