Undocumented migrants into Ceuta in late July will all return to Morocco: Spanish FM

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said undocumented migrants who entered Ceuta from Morocco will be returned, as thousands remain after a mass border crossing. Authorities are coordinating with Morocco amid reports of another attempted influx, while concerns persist over deaths and overwhelmed reception centres

Madrid: Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has said that the undocumented migrants who entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in late July will all return to Morocco. Albares made the remarks during a visit to Ceuta on Tuesday (local time).

More than 70,000 people illegally crossed the border into the enclave from neighbouring Morocco at the end of July, according to Spanish government estimates. About 100 people died during the massive migrant influx, Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas told an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs last Thursday.

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Most of those who entered Ceuta illegally have returned voluntarily to Morocco, but around 10,000 remained in the enclave, Vivas said recently. Albares, the foreign minister, said some migrants had been misled by online disinformation into believing that entering Ceuta would give them the right to travel to mainland Spain or elsewhere in Europe, reports Xinhua news agency.

“No one has left the city for the mainland (Spain),” he said. “The diplomatic work we are doing with Morocco is aimed at returning all those who have entered irregularly.”

Spanish authorities have cancelled all leave for military personnel and Civil Guards stationed in Ceuta amid online reports of plans for another mass border crossing on August 15.

Earlier, Vivas told an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs that about 100 people died during a mass border crossing into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta.

Vivas said about 80,000 people entered Ceuta, nearly 75,000 of whom subsequently returned voluntarily. Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the enclave, leaving reception centres overwhelmed and creating a severe humanitarian emergency, he said, calling for stronger security, more reception resources and greater support from EU agencies.