Spain to erect sea barrier at Ceuta border as migrant crossing deaths reach 67
Spain announced on Saturday that it will install a 500-metre-long containment barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and neighbouring Morocco, following a mass crossing of migrants earlier this week that left at least 67 people dead.
The Spanish government said the death toll from the incident had climbed to 67, including people who drowned and others who died in a stampede as thousands attempted to cross a breakwater into the enclave. Between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants are believed to have breached the frontier over several days, according to Spanish authorities.
The new barrier is intended to prevent such crossings along the coastal route that connects Ceuta to Moroccan territory. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the measure was part of a broader effort to secure the border, while stressing the need for continued cooperation between Spain and Morocco.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hit out at criticism from some European Union leaders who called for Spain to be temporarily suspended from the border-free Schengen zone. In a letter to EU officials, Sánchez said such reactions were “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.” He urged the bloc to adopt a coordinated response instead of punitive measures.
The leaders of 22 EU countries signed a separate letter calling for an urgent videoconference of the bloc’s interior ministers. The letter, released by the Danish Prime Minister’s office, warned against permitting “uncontrolled mass crossings” and said the situation could undermine confidence in the EU’s common migration policy.
Some EU member states, including Italy, announced they were reimposing border controls on arrivals from Spain. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy’s open-border agreement with Spain, a move Sánchez described as “selfish, polarising and unlawful.”
Despite the tensions, Sánchez defended the Moroccan government’s role in resolving the crisis. Interior Minister Marlaska also rejected suggestions that Morocco posed a threat to Ceuta. “Morocco is not a threat to Ceuta, or to the rest of Spain. It is a reliable partner,” he said, noting that cooperation with Rabat had allowed Spain to reverse the situation within 24 hours.
The Spanish government confirmed that the majority of migrants who entered Ceuta have already been returned to Morocco. Hundreds of migrants were seen walking back across the border on Saturday, with some telling reporters they were returning voluntarily after what they described as degrading treatment on the Spanish side.
The events in Ceuta have reignited debates over the EU’s border security and migration policies. While the bloc’s leaders have promised a unified response, the incident has also exposed deep divisions among member states over how to handle mass arrivals.
Human rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the deaths and for greater attention to the humanitarian needs of migrants. The Spanish government has announced it will review the security protocols that allowed the breach to occur.
