Spanish police clear migrants from Ceuta beaches after July border surge

September 18, 2026 at 11:16 PM2 min

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Spanish riot police began clearing thousands of migrants from beaches in the North African enclave of Ceuta on Friday, firing rubber bullets into the air and striking people with batons. The operation started shortly before 7am local time as authorities moved to relocate migrants to new temporary housing at the port. More than 72,000 people surged into the enclave from Morocco in late July, and Spain estimates about 10,000 remain.

Key Facts

More than 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco at the end of July in an unprecedented border rush.
Spain estimates 10,000 migrants remain in the 18.5 square kilometre enclave.
Spanish authorities have built temporary housing inside Ceuta's port to hold 1,700 people.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said images from Ceuta have fuelled support for far-right parties despite a sharp decline in irregular arrivals in Europe.
Spain's World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente released a video from Ceuta on Friday as he announced his Nations League squad in a show of support for the enclave.

Police Operation

Riot police fired rubber bullets into the air and struck people with batons on Friday as they began an operation shortly before 7am local time (05:00 GMT). The operation targeted thousands of migrants who had been sleeping rough in camps on the beaches of Ceuta. The AFP news agency reported that the new location where some of the migrants are being settled in tents near the port has showers and beds. NGOs say thousands remain unhoused despite the new temporary housing.

Ceuta Context

Ceuta, with an official population of 80,000 residents, has been in Spanish possession since 1580. It is one of two Spanish territories on the North African coast, along with Melilla. Christians and Muslims, Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers all live there in relative harmony behind a border fence that many migrants from across Africa attempt to cross or swim around for a better life in Europe.

EU Reaction

On Friday, EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said that images of migrants crossing into Ceuta have fuelled support for far-right parties despite a sharp decline in irregular arrivals in Europe following tougher migration policies. "We have the decreasing numbers, but images from Ceuta, of course, overshadow the actual successes and the actual facts and figures," Brunner told Reuters in an interview. He said these images "fuel the far right", which was why "it is so important to return those people as soon as possible to show that we have control". Separately on Friday, Spain's World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente released a video from Ceuta as he announced his Nations League squad in a show of support for the enclave.