Spain has requested assistance from the European Border and Coastguard Agency, Frontex, to process approximately 5,000 migrants currently in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. This request was made by Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska to Beate Gminder, the European Commission’s director general for migration and home affairs, on Friday. Grande-Marlaska also asked for an additional 10 Frontex officers to expedite the screening process.
Spanish authorities need to identify the migrants in Ceuta to determine their eligibility for international protection or to initiate return procedures if they do not qualify. Estimates indicate that between 5,000 and 8,000 migrants, including unaccompanied minors, remain in Ceuta, part of the 72,000 individuals who crossed the border from Morocco on July 30. The crossing resulted in the deaths of 82 individuals on the Spanish side and 14 on the Moroccan side, according to official reports, although human rights organizations have cited higher casualty figures.
The request for assistance comes amid increasing tensions in Ceuta, where residents have protested against the presence of migrants. Reports indicate that tents on Trampolin Beach, where many migrants have been staying, have been attacked and set on fire. On Thursday, twelve migrants were arrested after an incident involving stoning an army vehicle, which resulted in injuries to one soldier and four migrants. According to El Pais, eleven of the arrested migrants were expelled from Ceuta. Additionally, on Tuesday, Madrid submitted a formal request for emergency funding from the EU to help manage the situation.