{"id":2638178,"date":"2026-07-31T10:08:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T14:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-ceuta-the-spanish-port-thousands-of-moroccan-migrants-are-swarming\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T10:10:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T14:10:32","slug":"what-to-know-about-ceuta-the-spanish-port-thousands-of-moroccan-migrants-are-swarming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-ceuta-the-spanish-port-thousands-of-moroccan-migrants-are-swarming\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about Ceuta, the Spanish port thousands of Moroccan migrants are swarming"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-to-know-about-ceuta-the-spanish-port-thousands-of-moroccan-migrants-are-swarming%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2638178&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Dozens of people have died following a mass migrant surge from Morocco into teh Spanish enclave of Ceuta, a small territory bordered by Morocco and the European Union. the influx, which began recently and is significantly larger than previous migrations, has overwhelmed local authorities, with estimates of at least 60,000 migrants entering as Thursday and at least 34 deaths reported. Migrants are crossing into Ceuta by land and sea, seeking proximity to mainland Spain and easier access to Europe. Spain&#8217;s government has responded by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ap-trump-faces-at-least-one-felony-charge-in-indictment\/\" title=\"AP: Trump Faces at Least One Felony Charge in Indictment\">deploying additional police<\/a> and armed forces and is considering declaring a state of emergency due to the unprecedented scale of the crisis. The situation has drawn international concern, with EU leaders calling for urgent measures to control border crossings and dismantle smuggling networks. Historically,Ceuta has experienced border tensions,but this current surge is among the most severe in recent memory,exacerbated by neighboring countries&#8217; border policies and migration pressures.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dozens of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4670461\/morocco-migrants-border-rush-spain-cueta\/\">people have died<\/a> after mass <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/migrants\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2378\">migrant<\/a> crossings from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/morocco\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3361\">Morocco<\/a> into the Spanish port territory of Ceuta reached a boiling point overnight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The eyes of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/european-union\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1177\">European Union<\/a> have been fixated on the seven-square-mile city of Ceuta this week as thousands of migrants have poured into the city from Morocco and neighboring African countries. Ceuta, not attached to mainland Spain, is one of just two cities in the European Union to share a land border with Africa \u2014 the other being Melilla, Spain, situated a few hundred miles southeast of Ceuta and bordering Morocco \u2014 and has a history of tensions over its border with Morocco.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4670529\/what-to-know-ceuta-spanish-port-thousands-moroccan-migrants-swarming\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>What to know about Ceuta, the Spanish port thousands of Moroccan migrants are swarming<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4670461\/morocco-migrants-border-rush-spain-cueta\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>At least 18 die after breach of border between Morocco and Spanish territory of Ceuta<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4669558\/ninth-circuit-deepens-split-trump-detention-policy\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ninth Circuit deepens split among appeals courts over Trump\u2019s mandatory detention policy<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>     <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Location of Ceuta, Spain\" aria-label=\"Locator map\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-qHnsb\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/qHnsb\/1\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border: none;\" width=\"600\" height=\"598\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe>    <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and several Spanish authorities traveled to Ceuta on Friday in an effort to address the migration crisis in the port territory, as multiple EU <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/vonderleyen\/status\/2083142872870588460?s=20\">officials<\/a> jumped in to comment on the worsening situation. Juan Jesus Vivas, the local leader of Ceuta, estimated that at least 60,000 migrants had illegally rushed into the country from Morocco since Thursday, he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/07\/31\/world\/spain-ceuta-migrants-morocco\/c5fdff3d-5f12-5a10-b7f9-41597bbf9f39?smid=url-share\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/07\/31\/world\/spain-ceuta-migrants-morocco\/c5fdff3d-5f12-5a10-b7f9-41597bbf9f39?smid=url-share\">said in a Friday press conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vivas has been pushing for Spain to declare a national emergency over the mass migration, calling the situation \u201cabsolutely unsustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the situation continues to unfold on Friday, here\u2019s what to know about Ceuta and the current migrant crisis facing the city.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-when-did-ceuta-s-current-migrant-crisis-start\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When did Ceuta\u2019s current migrant crisis start?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There have been many flare-ups of migration tensions between Morocco and Ceuta since Spain first colonized the territory in the 17th century, as Rabat has historically loosened its border controls surrounding the city on several occasions, putting pressure on Madrid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This happened recently in 2021, when approximately 10,000 migrants illegally flooded the border into Ceuta over a two-day period. However, this week\u2019s crisis has been substantially more consequential based on initial estimates than the situation in 2021, with the expected number of migrants reaching at least six times that amount.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current surge appears to have begun on Thursday, with officials saying migrants were accessing Ceuta both by land through the Moroccan border and by swimming ashore after traveling by sea. Vivas <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theolivepress.es\/spain-news\/2026\/07\/30\/ceuta-national-emergency-migrant-crisis\/\">estimated<\/a> that throughout the past month, about 60 bodies have washed up on Ceuta beaches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At least 34 people have died since Thursday, according to the latest numbers from the <em>Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-why-cueta\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Cueta?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Migrants are rushing to Ceuta, likely largely because of its close proximity to mainland Spain, which is just across the Strait of Gibraltar from the city. Moroccan officials have also been <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jul\/31\/ceuta-spain-eu-border-africa\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jul\/31\/ceuta-spain-eu-border-africa\">known to loosen restrictions<\/a> on the city\u2019s border in the past, making it likely more attractive to migrants seeking to reach Europe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ceuta\u2019s border with Morocco is about 5 miles long, as the city largely juts out into the Alboran Sea.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-has-the-response-been-so-far\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What has the response been so far?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sanchez, who hurried to Ceuta on Friday amid calls for an emergency declaration, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/07\/31\/world\/spain-ceuta-migrants-morocco\/fa4c3f71-7671-547c-9bed-03b09e86a3a6?smid=url-share\">said<\/a> his country sent the armed forces and 400 additional police officers to the city on Friday to mitigate the crisis, according to <em>the New York Times<\/em>. He has not yet declared a national emergency.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe situation is absolute chaos,\u201d Rachid Sbihi, who is in charge of Spain\u2019s Civil Guard, which polices the Ceuta-Morocco border, said Thursday. He added that the border has \u201ctotally collapsed,\u201d in comments to the <em>Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Government of Spain is fully committed to providing an immediate response to the situation in Ceuta,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4669081\/migrants-bullrush-spanish-border-humanitarian-social-emergency\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4669081\/migrants-bullrush-spanish-border-humanitarian-social-emergency\/\">Sanchez\u00a0said\u00a0on Thursday<\/a>. \u201cWe are mobilizing all necessary resources, working with Moroccan and international authorities, and preparing the necessary measures to restore normalcy as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Morocco has not released any official statements responding to the crisis yet.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4669081\/migrants-bullrush-spanish-border-humanitarian-social-emergency\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4669081\">THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS BULL-RUSH SPANISH BORDER, SPARKING \u2018TOTAL HUMANITARIAN AND SOCIAL EMERGENCY\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EU President Ursula von der Leyen is one of several EU leaders to have called for swift action on the crisis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe images coming from Ceuta are unacceptable,\u201d von der Leyen said Friday on X. \u201cWe cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules. Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dozens die as migrant surge overwhelms Ceuta border<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2638179,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26211516164791.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[83471,83488,83487],"class_list":["post-2638178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ceuta","tag-moroccan-migrants","tag-spanish-port"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26211516164791.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2638178"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2638183,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638178\/revisions\/2638183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2638179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2638178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2638178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2638178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}