Ceuta Migrant Repatriation
Spanish Army transports hundreds of irregular migrants from Ceuta's neighborhoods back to the border
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The Spanish Army deployed hundreds of troops through the neighborhoods of Ceuta on Monday morning, rounding up undocumented migrants and transporting them back to the Tarajal border crossing with Morocco, according to El Periódico. The operation followed a massive wave of arrivals in which thousands of people crossed into the Spanish enclave in a matter of days.
Migrants were still wandering through the city's outer neighborhoods when soldiers began the sweep. La Provincia reported that hundreds of people, mostly from North Africa, were loaded onto military vehicles and returned to the border.
Army Sweeps Ceuta's Outer Neighborhoods for Migrants
Soldiers fanned out across Ceuta's peripheral barrios, the outlying districts where many migrants had taken shelter after the mass crossing. The operation began in the early hours of Monday morning. Military vehicles drove through the streets, stopping to collect groups of people spotted on foot, according to Diario de Mallorca.
The troops were under orders to locate any undocumented migrants still inside the city. Those found were not detained in the traditional sense. Instead, they were transported directly to the Tarajal border point and returned to Moroccan territory, El Periódico de Aragón reported.
Hundreds Returned to Morocco in a Single Morning
The number of people transported back to the border ran into the hundreds by mid-morning Monday. Diario de Ibiza noted that the pace of returns was rapid, with military convoys making multiple trips between the neighborhoods and the Tarajal crossing.
The Tarajal crossing is the main border point between Ceuta and Morocco. It sits at the southern edge of the enclave. Returning migrants there effectively hands them back to Moroccan authorities on the other side of the fence, according to LNE.
Mass Crossing Prompted the Military Deployment
The Army's presence in Ceuta's streets followed an unusually large and fast wave of border crossings. Thousands of migrants entered the enclave in a short period. Spanish authorities responded by calling in the Armed Forces to support police and border guards already stretched thin, El Periódico de Extremadura reported.
Many of those who crossed came from Morocco and other parts of North Africa. After entering the city, large groups scattered into residential areas on the outskirts. The military sweep on Monday was aimed at clearing those areas and restoring control, according to Diario Córdoba.
Spain's Ceuta Enclave Has a Long History of Crossings
Ceuta is a small Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa, bordered on all sides by Morocco. Because it is part of the European Union, it draws migrants hoping to reach the continent. Border crises there are not new, but Monday's military operation was one of the largest responses in recent memory, La Opinión de A Coruña reported.
Spain has long relied on fast returns to Morocco to manage surges at Ceuta's border. The practice is controversial among human rights groups, who argue migrants deserve the chance to seek asylum before being sent back. The speed of Monday's operation raised fresh questions about whether proper checks were carried out, according to El Periódico.
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