More than 70,000 migrants crossed irregularly into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located on the North African coast, last week in what authorities have described as the largest surge recorded in the territory’s history. The mass crossing, which began in early August, involved predominantly young men who swam around natural barriers to circumvent the land border, resulting in chaotic scenes that prompted a swift and forceful response by Spanish officials.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government deployed military and police forces to restore order, employing loudspeakers in Arabic urging migrants to leave and using physical measures to prevent the newcomers from settling in the city. By the weekend, the majority of those who crossed had been returned to Morocco, with Spanish authorities reporting that nearly all of the migrants had been sent back, though about 2,000 remained in Ceuta. The government characterized these returns as “voluntary,” although many migrants described their departure as forced, citing hunger, exhaustion, and difficult conditions.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska highlighted the government’s close cooperation with Morocco, which has taken a hard line on preventing irregular migration for years. Madrid has accused Rabat of deliberately relaxing border controls in an attempt to exert political pressure on Spain, a charge denied by Moroccan officials. Spanish authorities say at least 75 migrants died during the crossings, with Moroccan officials confirming 11 additional deaths on their side of the border.

Among those still in Ceuta are approximately 860 unaccompanied minors, who cannot legally be summarily returned and will be transferred to facilities in mainland Spain following individual assessments. The presence of minors has intensified the political debate within Spain and across Europe, with right-wing parties opposing their reception and deepening divisions among European Union (EU) member states.

The EU responded with calls for stronger external border controls and more coordinated migration management. Italy suspended passport-free Schengen travel with Spain for a month as a precautionary measure, and at least 22 EU countries urged enhanced border security and faster migrant returns. Italy and Denmark, among others, criticized the Spanish government’s recent plan to regularize up to 500,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, viewing the policy as a potential “pull factor” for irregular migration. The EU migration commissioner expressed reservations about the policy but acknowledged no direct link to the Ceuta crisis.

Spanish officials have framed the incident as a “hybrid warfare” tactic by Morocco, describing the influx as a weaponized migration surge. The crisis also revealed vulnerabilities associated with the EU’s reliance on agreements with North African countries to limit irregular arrivals, raising concerns that transit countries might leverage migration flows for political or economic concessions.

Meanwhile, Ceuta’s overwhelmed migrant reception centers strained to accommodate the remaining migrants, with many individuals waiting for days in temporary facilities or sheltering in public spaces throughout the city. Spanish authorities continue efforts to manage the situation amid persistent rumors circulating on social media about potential new mass crossings in the coming weeks. Calls from the European Commission emphasize the importance of fully implementing the bloc’s new migration pact to prevent similar emergencies in the future.