Spain plans to build two permanent migrant identification centers in Ceuta and Melilla, each with space for 800 people. The move follows a surge in arrivals that left thousands sleeping outside and strained local resources. Authorities hope the facilities will replace temporary shelters used during recent emergencies.
The government wants to speed up identification and expulsion procedures while reducing the number of migrants living on city streets. The new centers, called CATES (Centros de Atención Temporal de Extranjeros), will serve as the basic processing hubs. Migrants are expected to stay only a few days as officials decide whether they can remain in Spain or must leave. The aim is to return those without international protection rights quickly, especially to Morocco.
Information from European Parliament research services, after the mass crossing into Ceuta, Spanish law allows temporary detention for a maximum of 72 hours to check identities and initiate deportation procedures.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has set a target of 10,000 beds in Ceuta, combining temporary and permanent facilities. The 800-bed centers in Ceuta and Melilla are basic parts of the plan. They are among 14 Ministry of the Interior projects with a total budget of €35.6 million, most of it expected to come from European funds. Construction timelines remain unclear, though officials say work needs to move quickly.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is scheduled to meet European Commissioner Magnus Brunner in Madrid to discuss funding and coordinate the response. The government is also expanding border infrastructure, including by extending breakwaters in both cities, to strengthen physical barriers and manage arrivals more effectively.
This week, 4,160 migrants are staying in temporary beds, and that number could soon rise to 6,000. Identification procedures have been completed for 1,822 people, allowing expulsion proceedings to begin. Official figures count 5,482 voluntary returns. They also record 307 deportations due to violent incidents and 100 people who have withdrawn their requests for international protection. The government has made clear that most arrivals in Ceuta will not qualify for protection and will be sent back.
The European Union has already allocated €114.7 million to Spain to address the Ceuta crisis: €82.7 million from the AMIF fund and €32 million from the border management and visa instrument. The funds are earmarked to strengthen border security and expand reception capacity, including for unaccompanied minors, while also supporting returns.
Euronews
Unaccompanied minors remain a major concern. The central government has registered and is caring for 2,048 minors in Ceuta, 1,612 of whom arrived since July 30. Still, between 700 and 1,000 are unaccounted for and remain on the streets. After weeks of disagreement with Ceuta’s local president Juan Jesús Vivas, Madrid has begun processing family reunification cases, starting with 10 of an estimated 3,000 minors. Those who cannot reunite with family will stay in Spain.
The government will retain full control of the crisis response until at least December 31, with extra security forces in place. Officials say restoring order requires fast, coordinated action across all levels of government. Political tensions continue, with government spokesperson Elma Saiz criticizing Vivas for putting party interests ahead of local needs.
Spain’s approach differs from the broader European debate, where temporary solutions are common. By investing in permanent infrastructure and seeking EU funding, Madrid is signaling that it does not want border cities to become long-term holding zones. The policy is controversial, with a tougher focus on rapid identification and quick returns, and sends a message that irregular arrivals will not find easy refuge. As reported earlier, the government’s handling of social crises often exposes the limits of coordination between national and local authorities. The outcome in Ceuta and Melilla will shape Spain’s migration policy going forward.
