Refugees and undocumented migrants
583 newsThe page turns scattered updates into useful context for people who live in Spain, visit Spain or follow Spanish affairs from abroad.
Ceuta Judge Orders Expulsion After Migrants Coerce Minor
A Spanish court has expelled three Moroccan migrants for five years after they admitted to forcibly trying to take a 17 year old girl to a makeshift shelter in Ceuta. The case highlights the swift judicial response to coercion involving minors.
Ceuta faces legal crossroads as state of exception gains traction
Ceuta’s spiraling crisis has reignited calls for the state of exception, a rarely used legal tool that could allow swift expulsions and strict controls. Legal and military voices argue it is the only way to restore order after weeks of chaos.
Two Migrants Held After Alleged Sexual Assault in Ceuta
Police arrested two migrants in Ceuta after an alleged sexual assault involving a 17-year-old Moroccan girl. Officers reportedly revived her at Trampolín beach before she was taken to hospital.
Two men sentenced for smuggling migrants from Almería to France
A Spanish court has handed two-year prison sentences to two men who organized paid road transfers for migrants arriving by boat in Almería. The operation linked Algerian contacts with Spanish drivers and aimed to move people as far as France.
Government weighs faster returns for migrants in Ceuta
More than 7,000 people had returned to Morocco by 22 September, mostly voluntarily. Spain is now considering a decree to speed up further returns from Ceuta, while Sumar says asylum rights and legal safeguards must remain in place.
Ceuta troops ordered to hide names as threats escalate
Spanish Defence has told soldiers in Ceuta to strip names from uniforms to protect their identities as threats and violence rise. Troops say they feel exposed and under-equipped while attacks grow and official support stays minimal.
Spain plans faster migrant returns from Ceuta
Spain is preparing emergency rules for Ceuta that would cut asylum and court deadlines and speed returns to Morocco. The plan targets thousands of unresolved cases after the mass crossing on 30 July.
Government targets faster migrant returns to Morocco
Spain is preparing emergency rules to speed returns to Morocco. The plan could shorten appeals and change how asylum claims affect expulsions as authorities handle thousands of arrivals from Ceuta.
Ceuta border guards block new fence breach attempts
Spanish border guards have stopped a new wave of coordinated attempts by sub-Saharan groups to break through Ceuta’s fence. With Tarajal now locked down, migrants are trying weaker spots and even the sea, forcing authorities to react fast.
Pedro Sánchez under fire after admitting Morocco border failure
Pedro Sánchez finally admitted Morocco’s border failure during the Ceuta crisis, but his coalition partners are not buying it. The way, place, and language of his statement have only deepened the rift and left allies demanding real answers.
Morocco promises cooperation on migrant returns from Ceuta
Morocco says it will cooperate with Spain on returning migrants from Ceuta. The promise still leaves thousands in limbo, including about 3,000 minors.
Ceuta president backs moving some migrant minors to mainland Spain
Juan Jesús Vivas, president of Ceuta, now says a small group of unaccompanied migrant minors who cannot be sent back to Morocco may be moved to the Spanish mainland. This breaks with the Partido Popular’s hard line and shows clear splits inside the party.
Fire Reveals Hidden Tunnel Shelter for Migrants in Ceuta
A fire led Ceuta firefighters to a hidden underground camp. The tunnel contained bedding and cooking equipment for dozens of migrants, while separate reports said it may have been large enough to hold up to 300 people. No injuries were reported.
Gamarra turns Ceuta security row into a direct clash with Sánchez
Cuca Gamarra defended Ana Vázquez after the Congress incident and said the dispute over the spray was taking attention away from insecurity in Ceuta.
Ceuta crisis weakens confidence among Socialist voters
A DYM poll finds widespread doubts about the Government's response in Ceuta. More than half of Socialist voters question how the crisis was handled and whether enough resources were used.
Morocco stops renewed mass-entry attempt toward Ceuta and Melilla
Pedro Sánchez praised Morocco's security deployment at Ceuta and Melilla after preventive measures stopped a renewed mass-entry attempt on 23 September. The move followed July's far larger crisis and renewed debate over border control, migrant screening and Spain's responsibility for reinforcing the enclaves.
Ceuta detains Moroccan terrorism convict barred from Spain
A Moroccan man convicted of terrorism has been detained in Ceuta and expelled to Morocco after police confirmed he was barred from entering Spain. The arrest came as Spain and Morocco tightened security along the border.
Ceuta minors expose split over Spain's solidarity response
Madrid says children in Ceuta must be moved to other parts of Spain. The Basque Government says its shelters are already full. A disputed meeting has laid bare the gap between solidarity and available space.
Morocco votes under the shadow of the Ceuta border crisis
Morocco votes on 23 September as Spain keeps watch on the Ceuta and Melilla borders. Rabat is under pressure after the July crisis and new calls to cross have appeared on social media.
Ana Vázquez expelled from Congress after showing pepper spray
Ana Vázquez was removed from Spain's Congress after showing a canister of pepper spray. The chamber treated it as a weapon and ordered her to hand it over to the authorities.
Ceuta crisis puts Robles and Marlaska under new pressure in Congress
The opposition will question four ministers over the Ceuta crisis. Margarita Robles and Fernando Grande-Marlaska face the toughest scrutiny after conflicting accounts of intelligence warnings and a recent parliamentary reprimand.
Morocco says Western Sahara dispute is on an irreversible path
Morocco says the Western Sahara dispute has entered an irreversible phase. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita tied the claim to a 2025 Security Council resolution and rejected a return to the status quo.
Sánchez holds Morocco responsible for Ceuta border failure
Pedro Sánchez has held Morocco responsible for the failure of border controls during the Ceuta migration crisis. He is demanding answers while stopping short of accusing Rabat of organising the mass entry.
Ceuta crisis deepens as government blames PP for stranded minors
Ceuta has spent eight weeks under migration pressure. The government says the PP is blocking the transfer of nearly 3,000 minors, while new shelters and €88 million have failed to break the deadlock.
Morocco vows to stop another Ceuta crossing on 23 September
Spain is preparing for a possible new attempt to enter Ceuta on 23 September. Morocco says it will take steps to stop it, while damage to the maritime barrier leaves the sea route exposed.
Ceuta and Melilla brace for a sixth mass-entry alert
Spain and Morocco are reinforcing the borders of Ceuta and Melilla ahead of Wednesday. It is the sixth alert since July and has brought extra police units to both cities.
Ceuta's migrant children trapped between protection and political deadlock
Hundreds of unaccompanied minors remain on Ceuta's streets. Delays in identifying them are blocking access to protection and driving a dispute over transfers to mainland Spain.
Morocco promises action as Ceuta prepares for a new irregular entry
Spain is pressing Morocco to stop another irregular crossing into Ceuta. José Manuel Albares will meet his Moroccan counterpart in New York as new calls circulate before Wednesday's election.
Albares and Bourita to Discuss Ceuta in New York
Spain and Morocco will discuss Ceuta in New York this week. The talks will cover migrant returns, people still in the city and online calls for another mass entry attempt before 23 September.
Marlaska tightens Ceuta and Melilla border ahead of Morocco vote
Spain is reinforcing its borders in Ceuta and Melilla ahead of Morocco's 23 September elections. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska cited social media alerts and delays affecting thousands of migrants and minors.
Feijóo demands a permanent Frontex presence in Ceuta
Feijóo wants Europe to strengthen Ceuta's role at the border. He is calling for permanent Frontex support and faster returns after the July 30 to 31 crisis.
PP hardens Ceuta standoff over migrant minors
Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Juan Jesús Vivas reject transfers from Ceuta. They want returns to Morocco and accuse Sánchez of letting the crisis drag on.
Morocco tightens Ceuta border ahead of September 23 election
Morocco has sent hundreds of officers and four water-cannon trucks to the Ceuta border. The move follows Spanish warnings about social-media calls for a collective crossing on election day.
Morocco tightens the Ceuta border before the legislative vote
Security forces have reinforced the area around Castillejos before Morocco's vote. Spain's embassy has rejected online claims about automatic entry rights, while Ceuta continues to process hundreds of migrant minors.
Police stop violent attack on Ceuta Ya deputy's car at port
A National Police officer stepped in to protect Ceuta Ya deputy Julia Ferreras and her group after their car was attacked at the port. The incident, tied to tensions over migrant aid groups, has drawn sharp criticism from officials across Spain.
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