Spain has deported more than a dozen sub-Saharan African and Asian migrants to Morocco after they were denied asylum in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, marking the first such repatriation since a large influx earlier this year. The Interior Ministry confirmed that the group was returned to Morocco, which has accepted their arrival, and that they currently remain on Moroccan soil.

Spanish officials emphasized that Morocco is regarded by the European Union as a safe third country, allowing for the deportations to proceed in accordance with legally mandated safeguards. Further details about the operation were not disclosed.

The deportations come in the aftermath of a significant border crossing in July, when approximately 80,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco over 48 hours. Ceuta, along with Melilla, constitutes one of Europe’s only land borders with Africa. While many migrants returned to Morocco shortly after the crossing, several thousand have remained in Ceuta since then.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, is facing increasing pressure from the European Union and domestic public opinion to address the ongoing migration challenges in Ceuta ahead of the national elections scheduled for November 29. At present, Spanish authorities are accommodating some 8,000 migrants in reception centers within the enclave and are processing the majority of their asylum claims.

The situation in Ceuta remains a complex issue for Spanish and European policymakers, reflecting broader migratory pressures at the continent’s southern borders.