Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous community located on the northern coast of Africa, has issued a firm demand for the immediate detention and expulsion of thousands of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants traversing the Spanish North African territory following a recent surge from Morocco. Mayor-President Juan Jesus Vivas of the Popular Party declared, ‘A space that acts as an internment center for foreigners must be set up, where these people can be held and remain confined.’
This demand follows a significant increase in irregular migration, with an estimated 80,000 migrants, including hundreds of unaccompanied children, arriving in Ceuta during the final weeks of July. Spanish authorities reported that 70,000 migrants and asylum seekers had returned to Morocco within the past two days, a figure significantly lower than the initial estimate of 80,000.
The situation has ignited a contentious debate between Spain’s leftist central government and the conservative Popular Party, and the far-right Vox party, both of whom fiercely oppose the detention of unaccompanied minors under existing legal frameworks. Ceuta Mayor Vivas estimates that between 8,000 and 11,000 migrants remain in the enclave, arguing that the current government’s statistics regarding the remaining number of migrants are inaccurate.
Police reports indicate a large gathering of 5,000 Ceuta residents protesting the handling of the migration crisis, citing concerns about the enclave’s safety. Minister Angel Victor Torres assured the population that police and troop numbers had been significantly increased, with 40% more civil guards deployed. This response follows a series of escalating events including a surge in asylum seekers from Morocco and a significant increase in the number of migrants arriving at the border, raising questions about Ceuta’s capacity to accommodate the influx and potential strain on its resources.
Furthermore, the influx has triggered a political battle, with the government emphasizing its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety of Ceuta’s residents, while simultaneously asserting the need to address the humanitarian crisis and the potential impact on the region’s infrastructure and social fabric. The issue highlights a fundamental clash between Spain’s left-leaning policies and the conservative political landscape, complicating the country’s response to the escalating migration situation.
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Source: Al Jazeera Africa
