Spain warns migrants against 'adventure doomed to failure' at Ceuta
15:49, 11/08/2026, TuesdayU: Update: 15:57, 11/08/2026, Tuesday
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Undocumented migrants, mostly young men, who entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta illegally, begin returning to Morocco after realizing their chances of obtaining legal status in Spain are unlikely on July 31, 2026. Meanwhile, small groups of migrants continue trying to cross into Ceuta by swimming or climbing the breakwater surrounding the Fnideq coast. More than 48,300 of the approximately 50,000 migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta since early Thursday have returned to Morocco by Friday afternoon, Spain's Interior Ministry said, according to EFE news agency.Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares issued the warning during a visit to the North African enclave on Tuesday as authorities reinforced security ahead of August 15 amid social media calls for another mass crossing following the unprecedented entry of 72,000 people in late July.
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Tuesday warned migrants against attempting to enter the North African enclave of Ceuta irregularly, describing such journeys as an "adventure doomed to failure" amid circulating calls for another mass crossing on August 15. Speaking during a visit to the autonomous city, Albares directly addressed people in Morocco and elsewhere in Africa who may be considering the journey to Ceuta or Melilla.
"Do not risk your lives in an adventure doomed to failure," Albares said, cautioning against believing "false information" about obtaining residency or asylum through irregular entry. He emphasized that no benefits await those who cross without authorization.
Security reinforced after July influx
Spanish authorities have reinforced security measures ahead of Saturday, with the military canceling leave for personnel stationed in Ceuta from Thursday and the Civil Guard suspending new vacations and permits for officers serving in both North African enclaves. The deployments follow unprecedented crossings on July 30 and 31, when approximately 72,000 people entered Ceuta from neighboring Morocco according to official estimates.
Territorial Policy Minister Angel Victor Torres initially suggested the figure reached 80,000 on Monday, though government sources later clarified to Spanish news agency EFE that the official count remains 72,000. Most entrants have since returned to Morocco, but Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas said Tuesday that around 10,000 people remain in an irregular situation, many living on streets or in makeshift settlements.
Returns and European tensions
Albares stated that Spain is working with Moroccan authorities to accelerate returns, noting that his counterpart had expressed "total willingness" to accept people who entered irregularly. "Every last person who entered Spain irregularly will return to Morocco," Albares said, adding that eliminating expectations of residency was key to preventing future mass crossings.
Vivas welcomed the commitment, arguing that removing the incentive was essential to deterrence. "The best way to stop another situation like this is for everyone to lose the expectation that by coming to Ceuta they will get papers and asylum," he said. Albares also criticized Italy for imposing border controls on travelers arriving from Spain, suggesting the move was driven by "partisan interests" and "electoral needs," while urging the EU to demonstrate greater "solidarity" with the enclaves.