‘I’m determined to get to mainland Europe and, if I fail, I’ll die here trying’: Special dispatch from IAN GALLAGHER in Ceuta
Thousands of migrants remain camped on a hillside in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, refusing to leave despite most of the estimated 60,000 people who crossed the border from Morocco last week having already returned, citing hunger and exhaustion. The mass crossing, described as the largest illegal border entry in EU history, was partly driven by Spain's residency regularisation scheme announced by prime minister Pedro Sánchez, which drew far more applicants than expected and convinced migrants such as Ethiopian Yared Teka that Spain represented a genuine opportunity to reach mainland Europe.
Those still camped say conditions have worsened, with authorities no longer distributing food or water to those outside Ceuta's immigration centre, which houses 600 people with access to supplies. Migrants interviewed, including Teka, a Palestinian man who previously lived in Germany, and a young man from Cameroon, described desperation and determination in equal measure, noting that although mainland Spain lies just 20km away, Ceuta's exclusion from the Schengen area makes the crossing far harder than the distance suggests. Spain's original residency scheme anticipated 500,000 claims but registered 1.2 million before closing in June, while Spanish authorities have also erected a 1,600ft barrier along a stretch of coastline used during the crossings.
In short
- Thousands of migrants remain camped in Ceuta despite mass returns to Morocco.
- Spain's residency scheme, drawing 1.2m claims, fuelled the record border surge.
- Migrants describe worsening conditions as authorities halt food and water aid.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
These are vulnerable people, many fleeing persecution or extreme hardship, and Spain's own residency scheme created legitimate expectations of opportunity. Withholding basic humanitarian assistance like food and water is unconscionable regardless of immigration status. The fact that mainland Spain lies just 20km away yet is made unreachable by legal barriers illustrates how the system forces impossible choices on desperate people. Wealthy democracies have a moral obligation to provide safe pathways rather than forcing dangerous journeys.
The case against
Nations must retain the right to control borders and manage immigration through orderly legal processes rather than irregular entry. Whilst humanitarian concerns merit consideration, irregular migration creates dangerous journeys, enriches smugglers, and places unsustainable strain on reception services. Spain's generous residency scheme inadvertently demonstrated how well-intentioned policies can be overwhelmed—generating 1.2 million applications against 500,000 anticipated—leading to chaotic border crossings. Maintaining Schengen restrictions and deterring further irregular entry through consistent policy is necessary to uphold the rule of law and manage migration sustainably.
Explained simply
Ceuta is a Spanish territory on the North African coast, separated from Morocco by a fortified border. Although mainland Spain is about 20 kilometres away, Ceuta is outside the Schengen travel area, so reaching it does not give migrants free passage to the rest of Spain or Europe.
Spain’s residency scheme offered a route to legal status for people already living in the country, and drew far more applications than expected. Some migrants saw it as a sign that Spain might offer a chance to settle, while others have sought to reach Europe for different reasons. Spain and Morocco manage the border, and their policies affect how people can enter and move onward.