Spain Expands Temporary Shelter Capacity in Ceuta

Spanish authorities completed a large-scale relocation of 864 migrants on Sunday, moving them from the Loma Colmenar area in Ceuta to a newly established temporary shelter. According to police sources cited by EFE, the National Police initiated the operation early in the day to transfer individuals who had been sleeping outdoors near the border fence into designated accommodation.

The Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration characterized the event as a "humanitarian operation," stating that the migrants agreed to the transfer voluntarily. The ministry reported that the process concluded without incident, with support from various state security forces, as the government seeks to address the immediate housing crisis in the autonomous city.

Expansion of Shelter Infrastructure

The new facility is located in the Los Rosales neighborhood on land managed by the Public Business Entity for Land. The Ministry of Housing made the site available for temporary use, featuring several large canvas tents set up on dusty ground. This addition brings the total temporary accommodation capacity in Ceuta to approximately 4,300 places, according to the ministry, with expectations that this figure will exceed 6,000 in the coming days.

Officials indicated that the expanded capacity is intended to allow authorities to move people off the streets while they assess individual situations and process administrative procedures. Minister of Inclusion Elma Saiz, who has been present in Ceuta since Thursday, coordinated the response with Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres, whom the government designated as the official responsible for managing the crisis.

Tensions Surrounding Limited Access

Despite the successful relocation of the initial group, the situation remained tense near the former Los Rosales prison. Dozens of additional migrants attempted to reach the newly established settlement in an effort to secure a place, according to reports from EFE. National Police officers dispersed the group after preventing them from entering the site, which had already reached its full capacity.

Ongoing Administrative Challenges

The incident highlights the difficulties authorities face in accommodating migrants who have spent days in makeshift conditions while available spaces remain strictly limited. The government plans to open a separate facility near the Sidi Embarek Mosque for more than 300 women and children, aiming to further alleviate pressure on the current system. As noted in the GN geopolitics/migration (en-US) context, the primary challenge remains determining each person’s legal status and appropriate next steps under Spain’s framework.