About 60,000 migrants arrived in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta within a 24‑hour period, Spanish authorities said, prompting a firm response from Madrid. The country’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, described the influx as an “attack” on the North African territory and said that those entering without legal right would be returned to Morocco.
Spanish authorities provided the arrival figure as the enclave’s local services and national agencies worked to account for people who reached Ceuta during the concentrated movement. The rapid increase in arrivals in a single day created an urgent situation for municipal reception and processing facilities, according to official statements, and Spanish officials indicated that measures to manage the numbers were being activated.
Spain’s government announced that it would undertake returns of individuals deemed to be irregular migrants, stating that those without legal grounds to remain would be sent back to Morocco. The prime minister’s characterization of the events as an “attack” framed the movement as deliberate and prompted Madrid to emphasize immediate administrative and security actions to restore control at the border of the Spanish territory.
Ceuta is one of two Spanish enclaves on the North African coast, and movements across its borders draw close attention from both Madrid and Rabat. Spanish officials said the situation was being monitored and managed, with authorities processing arrivals and applying applicable immigration procedures. The developments underscore ongoing challenges for local authorities in dealing with large, sudden influxes of people and the administrative steps that follow when national governments decide to implement returns.
