Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska provided an updated figure on the migrants who entered Ceuta last week while European Union ministers addressed the situation on Tuesday. Grande-Marlaska stated that approximately 72,000 individuals had crossed into the Spanish territory, with 70,000 having returned to Morocco. Local official Alejandro RamÃrez, however, mentioned the difficulty in determining the exact number, estimating that around 3,000 to 5,000 migrants still remained in the city.
The Spanish government announced a funding allocation of 25 million euros ($40.5 million Cdn) to support minors in Ceuta. Additionally, Spain’s Civil Guard revealed the establishment of a missing persons office at the border customs house and provided an email for reports on missing individuals.
Many migrants voluntarily returned upon realizing the challenges of reaching mainland Europe or the limited capacity of the enclave to accommodate them. Among those who remained in Ceuta are migrants from various countries, including Sudan, Palestine, Afghanistan, and other African nations.
The city’s migrant center, designed for 600 people, is currently at full capacity, leading many migrants to seek shelter on the beaches or hills surrounding Ceuta. Approximately 1,000 vulnerable minors, separated from their families, are among those staying in Ceuta.
Grande-Marlaska raised the death toll from the crossing to 75 individuals, primarily due to incidents in the water. Moroccan authorities reported 11 additional deaths not included in Spain’s count. Ceuta officials had forewarned the Spanish government about the influx before the mass arrival occurred.
The EU ministers convened to discuss various strategies in response to the surge, including enhanced intelligence sharing, better social media monitoring for early detection of migration patterns, and bolstering border security. Denmark and Italy advocated for stricter migration policies during the emergency talks, emphasizing the importance of preventing a repeat of the 2015 crisis.
Migration remains a contentious issue within the EU, with significant fluctuations in irregular border crossings over recent years, including a notable increase during the pandemic. Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, reported substantial decreases in irregular crossings for 2025 and the first half of 2026.