01/08/2026 03:39 - Internacionales
The autonomous city of Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the northern coast of Africa, is facing the aftermath of an unprecedented migration crisis on August 1, 2026, but with encouraging signs of recovery. After the massive entry of nearly 50,000 people from Morocco in less than 48 hours, Spain's Ministry of the Interior reported that the night passed with complete normality and that entries have stopped.
The tragic toll includes at least 57 deaths by drowning. However, swift cooperation between Spain and Morocco has allowed 48,300 migrants to voluntarily return to Morocco at a rate of 150 per minute, according to official data updated on July 31, 2026. This massive return demonstrates the effectiveness of bilateral agreements in restoring order.
To ensure security and prevent future episodes, containment barriers are being installed at the Tarajal breakwater this Saturday. Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska traveled to the area to oversee operations and meet with National Police and Civil Guard commanders.
Morocco has arrested 70 people linked to violent incidents during the crisis, including attempted homicide and damage to public property. Many migrants decided to return upon finding no resources in Ceuta, highlighting a spirit of resilience and the search for better opportunities in a peaceful manner.
The Schengen Area is an agreement among several European countries that abolishes internal border controls, allowing free movement of people. In exceptional crises, countries can temporarily reintroduce controls for security reasons.
The crisis erupted after a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court banning 'hot returns' at sea. Criminal organizations and mafias exploited this information with rumors on social media and unusually calm sea conditions, triggering the avalanche.
The crisis had immediate diplomatic repercussions across Europe. The government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni decided to temporarily suspend the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain for one month, starting August 1, 2026. The measure involves random checks on non-EU travelers at ports and airports.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended the move on X (formerly Twitter) as a necessary step to defend European borders. However, this sparked a war of words with the Spanish government. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares summoned the Italian ambassador and lamented 'partisan demagoguery', reminding that Ceuta is an African enclave without free movement to the mainland.
Amid the tension, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico offered a conciliatory stance. While criticizing the 'lax' migration policies of some European governments, Fico rejected the exclusion of Spain from the Schengen area and expressed solidarity with Madrid, offering police and technical assistance to safeguard borders.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez used Frontex data to emphasize the need for cooperation: between 2021 and 2026, Italy recorded 478,600 irregular entries, compared to 234,760 for Spain. Sánchez stressed that 'this is not a time to divide, but to continue building a strong and united EU', a sentiment shared by the European Commission, which backed Spain's management and confirmed that no migrant managed to advance toward continental Europe.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
