Thousands of migrants have arrived in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta this week, crossing from Morocco by sea and overwhelming local security and accommodation facilities. More than 1,700 migrants reached the territory, one of only two European Union land borders in Africa, with at least nine reported dead during the journey.

Ceuta, located on the northern coast of Morocco, is separated from the mainland by a heavily fortified 10-meter-high fence patrolled by Spanish and Moroccan forces. Despite these measures, many migrants have exploited a recent ruling by Spain’s supreme court, which prohibits the immediate expulsion of migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or its twin enclave, Melilla. This legal decision has created a loophole exploited by those crossing by sea.

In recent days, warm sea temperatures and foggy weather conditions have facilitated the influx. Migrants, most of them Moroccan, have been seen swimming close to shore around breakwaters or taking longer routes to avoid detection by security forces. The Spanish Guardia Civil has deployed drones equipped with lasers to detect swimmers and coordinate patrol boat interceptions.

Between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning alone, Ceuta received over 100 Moroccan minors and hundreds of adults by sea. While some migrants were rescued by Guardia Civil officers, others successfully reached the shore, where they were taken to temporary accommodation centers. The death toll among migrants attempting the crossing reached 30 this year, including three bodies recovered in a 24-hour period up to Thursday morning. Among those rescued was a mother who swam with her baby strapped to her back.

Ceuta’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, described the situation as a “humanitarian and social crisis,” urging Madrid to declare a national emergency and close the legal loophole. He highlighted that the influx equates to approximately 2 percent of Ceuta’s population arriving in just 10 days. The enclave’s facilities have been overwhelmed, with around 700 Moroccan minors under government care—twenty times above capacity—and the adult shelter accommodating far beyond its official limit of 512 occupants, with many migrants resorting to camping outside.

Vivas warned that the situation could escalate to levels seen in May 2021, when Morocco, amid diplomatic tensions with Spain, allowed thousands of its citizens to enter Ceuta in large numbers. Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announced plans to visit Ceuta to evaluate the circumstances. However, ministry officials indicated that the current migration surge does not meet the legal criteria for declaring a national emergency.

Since 2015, Spain has authorized “hot returns,” immediate expulsions of migrants who scale border fences to enter Ceuta or Melilla. Yet, under the current supreme court ruling, sea arrivals cannot be summarily returned. Migrants intercepted have been transported to shelters in Ceuta before being moved to mainland Spain for processing. On Wednesday, a group of 39 migrants from various African countries was transferred from Ceuta to the mainland.

Those arriving in Ceuta are typically dispersed across Spanish cities, where their legal status is assessed, and they receive assistance. Spain’s government recently conducted the largest-ever amnesty program for undocumented migrants. The initiative, open until June 30, grants legal residency and work permits to migrants who entered the country before January 1 and have resided there for at least five consecutive months without a criminal record. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez framed the amnesty as both a justice measure and an economic necessity, emphasizing the need to sustain Spain’s growth and public pension systems by integrating younger workers.

The amnesty has set Spain apart from many European countries, where stricter immigration controls and expedited deportations have been common. The policy has drawn criticism from Spain’s opposition parties, including the center-right Partido Popular and the far-right Vox, both of which argue that it will encourage further illegal immigration.

Spain’s approach has also generated tensions within the EU. Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, expressed concerns at the June European Council summit, warning that Spain’s policy could impact the Schengen zone’s shared borders. The European Commission later clarified that the residency permits granted under Spain’s amnesty apply only nationally and do not confer EU-wide rights.