In Ceuta, Spain, authorities have begun installing a 500-meter containment barrier along the sea border with Morocco. This move comes after a significant influx of migrants, estimated between 50,000 and 60,000, breached the frontier earlier this week. The death toll reached 67, with casualties including drownings and a stampede over a breakwater barrier, according to Saturday’s report from the Spanish government. Ceuta officials reported 86 fatalities to Sky News.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized some European Union leaders for suggesting Spain be suspended from the EU’s Schengen zone. He attributed these calls to prejudice, misinformation, ignorance, or political agendas. A small group of migrants arrived at Ceuta’s Tarajal beach, escorted back across the border by soldiers. The Spanish interior ministry stated most unauthorized entrants have returned to Morocco.
Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, stood firm against illegal actions. He noted the incident’s evaluation requires cooperation between Spain and Morocco, praising Morocco as a reliable partner able to help reverse the crisis in 24 hours.
A Spanish Guardia Civil boat deployed a pneumatic barrier in the water near the border post, reinforcing security following the illegal crossings from Morocco into Ceuta on August 1, 2026. EU Leaders Push for Unified Approach
Leaders from 22 EU countries urged a coordinated response to Ceuta’s situation. The Danish prime minister’s office released a letter requesting the EU’s Irish presidency to arrange an extraordinary videoconference for the bloc’s interior ministers.
We must not permit unregulated mass crossings. The manipulation of migration can lead to the perception that illegal entry into the EU is feasible, turning illegal entry into legal stay,
the letter stated. Italy and other member states echoed the sentiment, emphasizing this perception undermines the EU’s migration policy.
Sánchez called for a videoconference to establish a shared solution and reiterated that the security of external borders is a collective responsibility for all EU members. He condemned some EU states for attacking Spain and suggesting its temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area.
Amid these tensions, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni warned of temporarily suspending Italy’s Schengen agreement with Spain, reimposing border controls on arrivals from Spain by air and sea. Sánchez denounced such measures as divisive and unlawful in the current international climate.
Migrants Returning to Morocco
Hundreds of migrants willingly headed back to Morocco after crossing into Ceuta. An Associated Press reporter spoke with migrants describing degrading conditions on the Spanish side. Many returned through an informal entry point, under watchful eyes of Moroccan law enforcement.
The returnees, primarily Moroccan with some from sub-Saharan Africa, shared tales of hardship. Hungry and weary, they spoke of sleeping outdoors and conflicts over scarce food. Some had visible injuries.
One migrant, Ouail Lamzeiz, expressed returning voluntarily, citing poor conditions, while another, Salah Eddine El Arrage, accused Spanish police of mistreatment. Othmane El Merzoug sought assistance to contact his family for travel support back home.
The Moroccan town of Fnideq’s road to the border displayed traces of unrest. Burnt vehicles and lingering smoke were evidence. Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas noted life in the city suffered disruption but affirmed the return process was progressing.
In Tangier, Morocco, about 46 miles from Ceuta, the railway station was bustling with people heading back. Many slept on the station floor, exhausted from their aborted cross-border attempts. Abdalah, a prospective migrant, recounted unsuccessful attempts to cross, facing food scarcity near the border.
Despite the challenges, some migrants expressed determination to remain in Ceuta. Mohamed Hatri, a 23-year-old Moroccan, stated authorities had closed access to necessities to force their return, yet affirmed his resolve to stay.