Spain is facing a new migration crisis after thousands of migrants crossed overnight from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa, overwhelming local authorities and prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to travel to the territory to coordinate the government’s response.
A police source told the Guardian that around **40,000 migrants** have crossed into Ceuta in recent days, an extraordinary influx for the enclave, which has a population of around 80,000 people. Many of the arrivals got to Spanish territory by swimming around the border fence that separates Morocco from Ceuta.
The surge has put enormous pressure on Spanish authorities and raised concerns across Europe, with France announcing tighter border checks along its frontier with Spain to prevent any secondary movement of migrants.
Spanish troops have been deployed to the enclave in a bid to beef up security, with Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska due to visit the Tarajal border crossing on Friday to see the situation first-hand.
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Witnesses described scenes of hundreds of men, women and children arriving by sea in Ceuta, discarding flotation devices and clothes after successfully landing on Spanish soil.
Police confirmed that **18 people have died** trying the dangerous crossing.
“There was a steady stream of people all night long,” a police source said, adding that migrants “continued to arrive overnight and are still arriving.
The cause of the latest migration surge has not yet been determined by authorities. Similar scenes unfolded in 2021 when Morocco relaxed border controls amid a diplomatic spat with Spain, allowing thousands of migrants to enter in two days.
The latest crisis has also caused diplomatic tensions within Europe. Italy has asked for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen free-travel area, saying the influx raises wider security concerns. Spain reacted by summoning the Italian ambassador and accusing Rome of using the situation for political purposes.
Footage from Ceuta was also cited by officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration as they reiterated their hardline stance on immigration.
The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are the EU’s only land borders with Africa and have long been major gateways for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Many of the new arrivals were seen celebrating their arrival, thanking Spanish police officers and chanting, “Bye bye Morocco, hi Spain.”
Moroccan authorities have yet to make an official statement, but a government source confirmed that officials from both countries had discussed the developing situation.
The migration crisis comes as Spain and Morocco are continuing efforts to stabilise diplomatic relations after years of disputes over Western Sahara and border management.
