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Spain and Morocco agree on swift return of migrants who entered Ceuta illegally

31 July 2026 12:21 (UTC +04:00)

Spain and Morocco have reached an agreement on the swift return of migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta illegally, APA reports.

According to Spain's Ministry of the Interior, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that criminal networks involved in human trafficking are trying to encourage irregular migration flows by exploiting a recent ruling by a Spanish court.

The ministry stated that the parties agreed to strengthen coordination and joint efforts to prevent irregular migration flows, as well as to consider additional measures to ensure the return of people who entered Ceuta illegally as quickly as possible.

According to the newspaper El País, thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta by sea, swimming and using inflatable boats, on July 30.

It should be noted that Ceuta, with a population of about 85,000, has faced a surge in irregular migration in recent days. Spanish authorities said reception centers have reached capacity and that hundreds of migrants have been spending the night on the streets.