Ceuta regional leader Juan Jesus Vivas has urged the Spanish government to immediately deport all illegal migrants who recently entered the autonomous Spanish enclave following a massive surge in arrivals from neighboring Morocco. He warned that the territory is facing a humanitarian crisis beyond its capacity to manage.
Speaking to reporters after meeting King Felipe VI on Thursday, Vivas said every migrant who entered Ceuta unlawfully during the latest wave should be returned through the Tarajal border crossing as soon as possible. He stressed that swift action is necessary to restore order and ease growing pressure on local resources.
According to Vivas, Ceuta is currently struggling to accommodate between 3,000 and 6,000 migrants, despite ongoing efforts to transfer some of them to mainland Spain. He argued that the situation has exceeded the territory’s logistical and humanitarian capabilities.
Particular concern has been raised over the large number of unaccompanied minors. Vivas noted that Ceuta’s child protection facilities were originally designed to house only about 90 children, yet authorities are now responsible for approximately 1,100 minors, placing an unprecedented burden on welfare services.
The regional leader insisted the current situation should not be viewed as a conventional migration challenge. Instead, he described it as an issue affecting the territorial integrity of both Spain and the European Union, calling on Madrid to implement stronger border management measures.
The latest appeal follows an extraordinary spike in migrant arrivals last week. Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city located on the northern coast of Africa and bordering Morocco, reportedly received around 60,000 migrants in a single day. The figure is significant considering the territory has a resident population of roughly 85,000 people.
The developments have also triggered wider debate within Europe. Several officials from European Union member states, including Denmark, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Finland, have reportedly called for the temporary suspension of Spain’s participation in the Schengen Area, arguing that stronger external border controls are needed.
The migration surge has intensified pressure on Spanish authorities as they seek to balance humanitarian obligations with border security while coordinating responses with Morocco and European partners.
Fajar Santoso is a lifestyle and travel writer at RakyatPost who focuses on culture, tourism, modern living, and destination storytelling across Asia and beyond. With a passion for discovering unique experiences and local traditions, he creates engaging content that inspires readers to explore new places, lifestyles, and perspectives. His writing blends informative journalism with creative storytelling to deliver meaningful and reader-friendly travel and lifestyle coverage.
