Spanish authorities confirmed on Wednesday that hundreds of migrants have arrived at the territory of Ceuta after swimming from Morocco. The sudden surge in arrivals caught border security forces by surprise, as officials had not anticipated such a significant movement of people.
Juan Jesus Vivas, the leader of the Ceuta government, stated that more than 1,500 migrants, including both adults and minors, have successfully reached the territory by sea over the last few days. Vivas emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that the local reception centers have become completely collapsed and saturated.
In response to the influx, a coordinated effort involving Spain’s Civil Guard, maritime Rescue Services, and the Red Cross has been underway to rescue migrants from the water. Reports indicate that approximately 117 individuals were rescued by these Spanish services. Additionally, Moroccan authorities have reportedly intercepted dozens of people who were in the water attempting to reach Spanish territory.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska addressed the incident while speaking to the Spanish television channel laSexta, describing the events as an "extraordinary, exceptional situation." Grande-Marlaska stated that the government is managing the crisis using resources already deployed to the area on a permanent basis. He further commended the cooperation of Moroccan authorities, characterizing the relationship with the kingdom as "close and based on loyalty."
While the government has not provided an exact figure for how many people successfully reached the shore, activists in both Morocco and Ceuta have noted that the swimmers are primarily Moroccan, with a small number of Algerian nationals who had been residing in Morocco. The reason behind the sudden decision by so many individuals to swim toward the territory remains unclear.
This incident occurs shortly after a Spanish Supreme Court ruling issued earlier this month, which determined that migrants arriving by sea cannot be immediately pushed back across the border without due process. Despite the timing, activists have downplayed the likelihood that the average migrant would be aware of this legal decision, arguing that there is no direct link between the court's ruling and the current swim attempts. Notably, overall migrant arrivals through the Mediterranean enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla have been lower this year compared to the same period in 2025, as many people have shifted toward alternative routes, such as the Canary Islands.
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