Thousands of migrants crossed into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday, July 30, 2026, overwhelming border controls and prompting calls for urgent action. Ceuta's president formally requested a national emergency declaration after more than 2,000 migrants entered the territory in the past 10 days, marking a peak "of particular intensity," according to Ceuta officials cited by El Pais.

Video footage showed large groups of mostly young men, some carrying swimming flippers, sprinting through Ceuta’s streets and overwhelming police at the city's breakwater. While the majority were military-aged men, families with women and children were also present.

Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, described the situation as "absolute chaos" and said the border had "totally collapsed." He noted it was impossible to provide precise numbers but confirmed thousands were crossing. Achraf Maimouni from the Moroccan Association for Human Rights called the situation "exceptional," explaining that the Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances that morning.

Spain’s interior ministry assured it would guarantee the safety of citizens and the integrity of the border but stated it could not declare a national emergency over migration concerns. The ministry also said it was not possible to activate the emergency mechanism requested by Ceuta’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas.

The White House criticized Spain's left-wing government for the border collapse. Anna Kelly, White House principal deputy press secretary, told Fox News, "Spain and other countries who have adopted this destructive philosophy should immediately reverse course or risk their own demise." She referenced former President Trump’s warnings about the consequences of far-left, globalist policies enabling mass migration.

Spanish authorities emphasized their commitment to responding immediately to the situation, mobilizing resources, and working with Moroccan and international partners to restore normalcy. However, challenges remain, especially regarding minors crossing the border, who cannot be sent back to Morocco and must be cared for by the Spanish state and NGOs until they turn 18.

This surge highlights ongoing migration pressures in Ceuta, a persistent issue for the Spanish enclave, now intensified to unprecedented levels in recent days.

Sources