Ceuta is in acute crisis after more than 80,000 people crossed the border illegally from Castillejos in just one month. The city, home to 80,000 residents, is overwhelmed by thousands of migrants living in makeshift camps and abandoned buildings, as well as on beaches. The situation has fueled fear and anger among locals, alongside reports of growing hostility and violence directed at migrants.
Residents near Benítez beach have refused to leave their homes, fearing that migrants sleeping on the sand will move in. Some have already experienced break-ins. Tensions boiled over when a group of locals stormed a migrant camp, destroying shelters and burning belongings. Chants of “A por ellos, oé” echoed before the attack. In another incident, a woman was injured after confronting a migrant in her garage. Residents armed with sticks have increasingly taken to night patrols targeting migrants in the city center.
The influx has left the city on edge. Official estimates of the number of migrants on the streets differ: the central government puts the figure at 5,000, while local authorities say it exceeds 9,000. Most migrants carry little more than a plastic bag and a mobile phone as they search for food and shelter. Many, including 20-year-old Handala Benktib from Tetuán, say they have no intention of returning to Morocco, despite uncertainty about their future in Spain.
Daily life has changed dramatically for local families. Many children have not left their homes for a month, as parents keep them inside for fear of attacks. Some families are moving to the mainland and enrolling their children in schools outside Ceuta. A sense of abandonment by the government is widespread. The city’s president has described Ceuta as “on the verge of collapse.”
Migrants sleep in public spaces, including parks and rooftops. Military personnel guard supermarkets to control crowds and prevent panic. Some migrants with resources buy expensive goods, but most wander the city in the same clothes they wore when crossing the border. Makeshift camps have turned public areas into temporary settlements, changing the city’s appearance and leaving those sites especially vulnerable in rainy weather.
Daily protests have become routine, with participants wrapped in Spanish flags as they demand government action and the expulsion of migrants. Demonstrations often end at Benítez beach, where protesters face off with migrants under police protection. Though they know they are unwelcome, most migrants refuse to leave, hoping for a chance to stay in Spain.
The crisis is straining Ceuta’s unique social fabric. Residents are nearly evenly split between Christians and Muslims, and the city has long taken pride in peaceful coexistence. Now, reports of aggression and discrimination involve migrants and local Muslims. Some businesses serving migrants face boycotts, while Muslim residents report harassment by Christian neighbors.
Community leaders warn that tensions could escalate if the situation is not addressed. Volunteer-run shelters, including one managed by Abdellah Mustafa, offer refuge to hundreds of women and children, but resources are stretched thin. Mustafa intervened to protect a woman from assault and now coordinates aid with minimal support from authorities, while urging the government to take responsibility for vulnerable groups.
The government has announced plans to move migrants off the streets within two weeks. New accommodation sites are being prepared for registration and expedited deportation procedures. Experts warn the process could take months, as it did during the 2021 crisis, when migrants remained in Ceuta for up to eight months.
Ceuta’s economy relies heavily on public-sector jobs and services. Unemployment stands at 22.2%, and economic disparities between communities are clear. The city has traditionally celebrated its religious and cultural diversity, but the current crisis threatens that balance. The coming weeks will be critical as authorities try to restore order and prevent further social division.
