Thousands of migrants who crossed into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta are now facing difficult conditions as authorities work to respond to one of the largest border surges the territory has experienced in recent years.
According to CBS News, an estimated 60,000 people entered Ceuta after Moroccan border controls were relaxed, overwhelming local resources. Spanish authorities have since returned thousands of migrants, but many remain in the enclave awaiting further action.
Video shared by the New York Post on X showed groups of migrants gathered outdoors, with some saying they had received little assistance.
“There is no food, no blankets,” one man said in footage cited by the outlet.
African Migrants in Ceuta Complain About Treatment: ‘No Food, No Blankets’ pic.twitter.com/RmWGWe2oVA
— New York Post (@nypost) August 3, 2026
The videos showed large numbers of men waiting in public areas. One individual held a sign stating that Yemen was not safe, although multiple news reports have indicated that many of those who crossed into Ceuta are from neighboring Morocco.
The humanitarian challenges have unfolded alongside security concerns.
Separate footage published by the New York Post showed a confrontation between migrants and Spanish police. The outlet reported that some participants shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the clashes, while video also appeared to show demonstrators carrying an injured individual away from the scene.
The crisis has also carried a significant human cost. According to reporting cited by the New York Post, at least 72 migrants have died during the attempted crossings, with fatalities attributed to drowning while trying to reach Ceuta by sea or being caught in the chaos surrounding the mass movement.
Right now, invading Moroccans in Ceuta carry an injured man through the streets screaming “Allahu Akbar.”
Dirty Sánchez says this isn’t happening.
https://t.co/8s55sg0CCs— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) August 2, 2026
CBS News international correspondent Aidan Stretch interviewed one migrant about his decision to leave Morocco.
“Every Moroccan, they want to go to Europe,” the man said. “Morocco is good. Morocco is a beautiful country, but you need to have a lot of money and you can’t make money in Morocco.”
He added, “To live is too hard. It’s not bad, but it’s too hard. If you go to Spain, you’re going to have all that you want.”
Those comments reflect one individual’s explanation for migrating and echo a broader reality that economic opportunity remains a major factor driving migration to Europe. At the same time, the scale of the influx has renewed debate over border security, immigration policy, and the ability of European governments to manage large, sudden movements of people.
More than 37,500 migrants have returned to Morocco after an estimated 60,000 crossed into Spain’s Ceuta enclave this week. The rush turned deadly, with some migrants drowning as they tried to swim to the territory. CBS News’ @aidan_stretch spoke with one migrant about why he… pic.twitter.com/KqBBXhhiOH
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 31, 2026
Spain has repeatedly faced migration pressures at Ceuta and Melilla, its two autonomous enclaves on the North African coast. Because both territories are part of Spain, they also serve as external borders of the European Union, making any large-scale crossing a matter of concern for both Spanish and EU authorities.
The events have also revived discussion about the historical significance of Ceuta and Spain’s long relationship with North Africa. References to the Reconquista and centuries of conflict between Christian and Muslim rulers have resurfaced in political commentary, though opinions differ sharply over how those historical events should shape modern immigration policy.
