The Spanish government announced that the irregular migration movement from the Morocco border toward Ceuta has been brought under control. In a social media statement, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares reported that almost all migrants who entered the area have returned to Morocco. Emphasizing that the integrity of the Schengen Area is fully assured, Albares said, 'Put an end to deliberate disinformation.'
Albares also added that crossing from Ceuta and Melilla to mainland Spain without police checks and identity verification is not possible.
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner also issued a statement after a phone call with his Spanish counterpart. Brunner said that Albares told him that 'almost all' of the irregular migrants heading for Ceuta had returned as a result of the efforts. Emphasizing that 'not a single person managed to cross to EU mainland,' Brunner said, 'We will maintain close contact and we are in communication with ministers across Europe.'
Background
On Thursday, July 30, more than 800 irregular migrants trying to swim from the coast of Fnideq, Morocco, to Ceuta, Spain's territory in North Africa, were intercepted. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated after the incident that the government had mobilized all available resources.
The Spanish government decided to deploy the armed forces to the area in response to the increase in irregular migration attempts toward Ceuta. The government also announced that it was estimated that over 49,000 people had crossed by swimming or on foot to Ceuta in the last 24 hours.
