{"id":2228,"date":"2026-07-30T23:40:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T23:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2228"},"modified":"2026-07-30T23:40:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T23:40:47","slug":"what-to-know-about-the-spanish-enclave-of-ceuta-as-migrant-arrivals-from-morocco-spike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2228","title":{"rendered":"What to know about the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as migrant arrivals from Morocco spike"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>MADRID (AP) \u2014 Thousands of <span>migrants have streamed into the tiny Spanish territory<\/span> of Ceuta in North Africa from Morocco, with at least nine dying in the attempt, prompting Spain to deploy its military to restore the border. <\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2226\">Spain deploys military to Ceuta after thousands of people breach Morocco\u2019s border and at least 9 die<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" aria-label=\"Locator map\" height=\"340\" id=\"ap-chart-5JXkF\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/interactives.ap.org\/embeds\/5JXkF\/2\/\" style=\"border:none\" title=\"Migrants enter Spanish territory\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Videos and images from the frontier showed crowds of people, mainly Moroccans, walking around the breakwaters at an urban beach near a border checkpoint with Morocco onto local roads. The majority looked to be young men, though there were also families with women and children. <\/p>\n<p>The escalation at the frontier comes after a surge in migrants attempting to reach the small exclave, mainly by swimming, <span>a day before<\/span>. It was not immediately clear what prompted so many people to cross to Ceuta. <\/p>\n<p>Spain\u2019s government said it would send the Armed Forces to help the Civil Guard in Ceuta, which Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez was expected visit Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what to know.<\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>An autonomous Spanish city in continental Africa<\/h2>\n<p>Ceuta and the larger Spanish territory of Melilla that is some 400 kilometers (250 miles) east, are located on the northern shores of the Mediterranean coast at the tip of Africa. Both autonomous cities belong to Spain and share the European Union\u2019s only land borders with Africa.<\/p>\n<p>In Spanish possession since 1580, Ceuta is home to a mixed population of Christians and Muslims, and Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers who live in relative harmony. <\/p>\n<p>Morocco does not officially recognize Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territory, and often refers to them as occupied lands. <\/p>\n<h2>A migration and diplomatic flashpoint between Spain and Morocco<\/h2>\n<p>The city of 85,000 has been a flashpoint in major diplomatic crises in recent memory between Madrid and Rabat. <\/p>\n<p>In May 2021, the Moroccan government <span>dropped its border controls<\/span> and let some 8,000 people from Morocco and sub-Saharan countries pour into Ceuta in just two days. <\/p>\n<p>The move was broadly interpreted as retaliation from Morocco for Spain\u2019s decision to allow a pro-independence leader from the disputed <span>Western Sahara region<\/span> to receive medical treatment at a Spanish hospital. <\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2224\">National Guard officer forged records and stole public money to facilitate secret second marriage<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Tensions were defused and the border restored only after <span>Spain\u2019s prime minister<\/span> shifted <span>Spain\u2019s long-standing position on Western Sahara<\/span>, and <span>met with Moroccan King Mohammed VI<\/span> the following year.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<!-- AP \"Read More\" embed (place mid-article) --><\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>A destination for migrants trying to reach Europe<\/h2>\n<p>Spain is a main point of arrival into Europe for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or an escape from violence in their home countries.<\/p>\n<p>Ceuta and its sister city Melilla are heavily fortified, as the territories are seen as a destination for those trying to reach Spain from Morocco and other parts of Africa. <\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many migrants who reach Ceuta or Melilla are immediately turned back, while others held in migrant shelters are processed and can apply for asylum in Spain.<\/p>\n<p>To reach Ceuta, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<!-- AP Morning Wire Newsletter Embed (self-contained) --><\/p>\n<div>\n<!-- Red AP Prompt Bar --><\/p>\n<div>\n<svg>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<strong>Sign up for Morning Wire:<\/strong><br \/>\n    Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.\n  <\/div>\n<form>\n<input\/><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<label>Email address<\/label>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<label><br \/>\n<input\/><br \/>\n<span><br \/>\n          By checking this box, you agree to AP&#8217;s<br \/>\n          Terms of Use<br \/>\n          and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our<br \/>\n          Privacy Policy.<br \/>\n        <\/span><br \/>\n<\/label>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Still, migrant arrivals to Ceuta and Melilla are generally much lower than those reaching Spain through the Canary and Balearic Islands.<\/p>\n<p>Spain\u2019s overall <span>immigrant population has grown considerably<\/span> in recent decades, with around 10 million people in the country of 50 million having been born elsewhere.<\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many are from Colombia, Venezuela and Morocco, and work in key sectors of the Spanish economy, including agriculture, tourism and the service sector.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2222\">Palestinian authorities ask Supreme Court to halt $656M judgment pending appeal<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thousands of migrants have entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco, with at least nine dying in the attempt, prompting local officials to seek help from Spain&#8217;s national government. Videos show mainly Moroccans, including families, crossing near a border checkpoint. Spain\u2019s interior ministry says it will ensure citizen safety and border integrity but won&#8217;t declare a national emergency. The surge follows a wave of migrants attempting to reach Ceuta by swimming. Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish territories in Africa, often seen as gateways to Europe. The border situation has been a diplomatic flashpoint between Spain and Morocco, with tensions flaring in the past.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2227,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What to know about the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as migrant arrivals from Morocco spike - Top Moving Pros<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2228\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What to know about the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as migrant arrivals from Morocco spike - Top Moving Pros\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Thousands of migrants have entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco, with at least nine dying in the attempt, prompting local officials to seek help from Spain&#039;s national government. Videos show mainly Moroccans, including families, crossing near a border checkpoint. Spain\u2019s interior ministry says it will ensure citizen safety and border integrity but won&#039;t declare a national emergency. The surge follows a wave of migrants attempting to reach Ceuta by swimming. Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish territories in Africa, often seen as gateways to Europe. 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