Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska provided an updated figure on the number of migrants who entered Ceuta last week, while European Union ministers addressed the crisis on Tuesday. Grande-Marlaska stated that approximately 72,000 migrants arrived at the Spanish border last week, with 70,000 having returned to Morocco. Local official Alejandro Ramírez suggested that an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 migrants may still be present in the city, although determining an exact count is challenging.
The Spanish government announced a funding allocation of 25 million euros ($40.5 million Cdn) to support minors in Ceuta. Additionally, the Spanish Civil Guard established a missing persons office at the border’s customs house and provided an email address for reporting missing individuals.
Many migrants voluntarily returned upon realizing the difficulty of reaching mainland Europe or the limited capacity of the small enclave to accommodate them. Among the remaining adult migrants in Ceuta are individuals from various countries, including Sudan, Palestine, Afghanistan, and other African nations.
A significant number of minors, around 1,000 among the most vulnerable, are still in Ceuta without their families. Tragic incidents, such as a 17-year-old girl witnessing her brother drown during a chaotic crossing, highlight the harrowing experiences faced by migrants. While Spanish law allows adult migrants to apply for asylum, stringent criteria apply, especially for Moroccans seeking humanitarian protection. Unaccompanied migrant minors are entitled to protection and care under Spanish law.
The death toll from the crossing was revised to 75, primarily due to fatalities in the water. Morocco reported 11 additional deaths not included in the Spanish count. Ceuta officials had forewarned the Spanish government of the influx prior to the surge. Misunderstandings regarding recent Spanish legal developments, such as regularization measures, led to false hopes among some migrants.
European Commissioner Magnus Brunner attributed the surge to criminal smuggling networks and misinformation on social media. The EU is in talks for a comprehensive partnership agreement with Morocco to address the situation. The ministers discussed enhancing intelligence sharing, monitoring social media for early detection of migration surges, and bolstering border protection.
Migration has been a contentious issue in the EU, exacerbated by past crises. Despite declines in irregular border crossings since 2017, the pandemic saw a resurgence, with approximately 316,000 such crossings. Frontex reported substantial decreases in irregular crossings in 2025 and the first half of 2026. Denmark and Italy advocated for stricter migration measures during the emergency talks, emphasizing the need for robust border security funding to prevent a repeat of past challenges.