Ceuta Government Reports 3,000 Migrants Remain on Streets
Spain's enclave faces sustained pressure as officials detail daily voluntary returns and plans for temporary accommodation expansion.
Key points
- Spanish officials state that over 3,000 migrants, including many minors, are still living on Ceuta's streets as of Monday.
- Between 150 and 200 migrants voluntarily return to Morocco daily, with most recent arrivals not expected to qualify for protection.
- The government plans to transfer unaccompanied minors to mainland Spain to reduce overcrowding in the enclave.
More than 3,000 migrants, including several hundred minors, are currently residing on the streets of Ceuta, according to the Spanish government. Territorial Policy Minister Angel Victor Torres provided this estimate in an interview with public broadcaster TVE on Monday, outlining the scale of the ongoing humanitarian and logistical challenge within the North African enclave.
The government has indicated that efforts to relocate these individuals into designated accommodation facilities will continue over the coming days. Torres stated that additional sites may be opened if necessary to manage the population density, expressing hope that the relocation process would be completed within a few weeks to allow for the processing of return files.
Daily voluntary returns to Morocco
According to Torres, between 150 and 200 migrants are voluntarily returning to Morocco each day. He noted that 160 individuals had done so in the preceding 24-hour period. The minister added that most recent arrivals from Morocco are not expected to qualify for international protection, with only those entitled to such status or unaccompanied minors unable to be reunited with families remaining in Spain.
Relocation plans for unaccompanied minors
To mitigate overcrowding in the enclave, the administration intends to transfer unaccompanied minors to mainland Spain. This measure aims to distribute the burden of care across a wider geographic area while maintaining compliance with legal obligations regarding the welfare of children in the territory.
Political tensions and security incidents
The situation in Ceuta has also been marked by rising social friction. Torres condemned a Sunday incident in which the car of a Ceuta Assembly lawmaker was pelted with stones, describing the attack as unacceptable. The minister’s remarks underscore the strain that the prolonged presence of migrants on the streets is placing on local institutions and community relations.
