Plans for a migrant camp for about a thousand people on Ceuta’s port grounds have triggered a security escalation. The Interior Ministry raised the port’s maritime protection status to Level 2, citing increased risks to critical infrastructure after the Transport Ministry took control of two port plots for the project. The government has withheld a basic risk assessment despite repeated written requests from the Ceuta Port Authority. Spanish media, citing official statements, have linked the heightened alert to concerns about the camp’s proximity to sensitive fuel and energy facilities within the port.
The dispute began when Transport Minister Óscar Puente signed a resolution on September 5 authorizing the use of 16,000 square meters of port land for the camp. The decision overruled the Ceuta Port Authority board, which had rejected the plan by 11 votes to 4 over security concerns. The resolution cited an internal report from Puertos del Estado, which reportedly justified the project on public-interest grounds while acknowledging increased risks to port operations and infrastructure. Spain’s basic police union, the Sindicato Unificado de Policía (SUP), has called for the project to be stopped immediately. It argues that the site’s location next to critical infrastructure poses risks to evacuation planning and fire safety across the port, as reported by El Confidencial and other outlets.
For eleven days, the Ceuta Port Authority could not obtain the risk report. Four separate requests, two to Puertos del Estado and two to the Ministry of Transport’s State Secretariat, went unanswered. The document is basic because the government cites it as the basis for its authorization; without it, local officials say they cannot assess or implement the required safety measures. The port administration has repeatedly said it cannot properly evaluate or enforce security protocols for such a sensitive installation without access to the assessment, as reported by Caliber.az and other sources.
On September 9, the Interior Ministry’s State Secretariat for Security intervened, officially raising the port’s maritime protection status. The order, signed by Aina Calvo Sastre, warns that the temporary occupation of port land for a large-scale humanitarian facility "substantially alters the ordinary conditions of operation and protection" and increases risks tied to access control and the separation of restricted from operational areas. It also cites the need to safeguard critical infrastructure. The directive echoes technical objections raised earlier by the Ceuta Port Authority in three reports opposing the camp. The Level 2 alert requires stricter access controls and clear separation between humanitarian and operational zones. It also calls for reinforced port security measures, Moncloa.com reported.
The port was instructed to physically separate the humanitarian area from operational and embarkation zones with controlled fencing and reinforce all maritime protection measures. On September 14, Ceuta’s port officials said they lacked technical details about the planned installation, making it impossible to comply with the new security requirements. They have since requested further information about the Level 2 alert from the government and Puertos del Estado. The Ministry of Transport also received a request. Only Gustavo Santana, president of Puertos del Estado, has replied, clarifying that the heightened security applies to the entire port, not just the camp area, and must be enforced immediately.
Port Authority president Juan Manuel Doncel warned that if the migrant camp remains on port grounds until 2027, operational and commercial losses could reach 600 million euros.
The government has not provided the risk report cited by Óscar Puente. With construction of the camp nearly finished, the lack of transparency has prompted legal action. On September 15, Spain’s National Court temporarily suspended the project while it reviews a police union lawsuit over safety concerns. The suspension followed the SUP’s argument that authorities had failed to verify the camp’s compatibility with port operations or confirm compliance with safety requirements, including civil protection and emergency protocols. The union had requested this information from all relevant agencies on September 13 but received no response. Reuters reported that more than 800 migrants had recently been transferred to a new reception center in Ceuta, while over 10,000 migrants were reportedly still in the city after a recent surge.
The dispute reflects a pattern of government intervention in strategic enclaves, similar to the recent push for permanent EU status for Ceuta and Melilla. It highlights tensions between national priorities and local operational realities, particularly where critical infrastructure is involved. The government’s refusal to release the risk assessment has weakened local authority and raised questions about transparency and the balance of power in Spain’s management of migration and border security. The project remains suspended pending disclosure of the documentation and clarification of safety protocols.
