Hundreds of migrants who recently arrived in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta gathered for a demonstration on a popular urban beach, appealing to Spanish authorities for asylum instead of being repatriated to Morocco. These individuals are part of the estimated 5,000 to 8,000 migrants who remain in Ceuta following a large-scale border crossing two weeks ago that witnessed over 72,000 people entering the small territory inhabited by around 80,000 residents. While the majority of migrants voluntarily returned in the subsequent days, those left behind are living in challenging conditions on El Trampolin beach or in the city’s peripheries, hoping for an opportunity to continue their journey to mainland Europe.
Ayoub Elarroud from Tetouan, Morocco, expressed their distress, stating that they are enduring harsh conditions, sleeping near the sea with cold temperatures and unpleasant odors. He also mentioned that authorities are preventing migrants from accessing the city center. During the protest, participants displayed Spanish flags and banners with messages such as “We don’t want to go back to Morocco” and “We are also human,” while voicing their exhaustion and the urgent need for a resolution to their situation.
On the rocky shoreline nearby, some migrants were seen washing clothes or fishing using makeshift bamboo rods. Earlier in the week, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that irregularly arrived migrants would not be permitted to remain in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, except in rare cases involving extreme vulnerability.
Ceuta’s medical board head, Enrique Roviralta, highlighted the strain on the city’s limited healthcare workers, citing a slow response from the central government. He noted the emergence of diseases like infectious diarrhea and scabies, along with a rise in violence-related injuries such as broken noses and stabbings. Health Minister Monica Garcia refuted claims of a collapsed health system but acknowledged the pressure on local services, emphasizing the unjust and xenophobic nature of associating migration with illness.
Many Moroccan migrants interviewed expressed dissatisfaction with the poor working conditions in their home country, despite holding higher qualifications. One individual, Mohammed Ouanzar, an automation specialist from Fez, cited low monthly salaries that made it impossible to afford housing or start a family. Another migrant, Emmanuel, a 30-year-old electrician from conflict-affected northeastern Nigeria, embarked on a perilous journey through Niger, Algeria, and Morocco to provide a better future for his children, expressing willingness to undertake any available job opportunity.
Individual stories of struggle and resilience emerged, including Mohammad Ismail Hossain’s journey from Bangladesh after the 2024 uprising and Ousmane’s quest for asylum due to persecution over his sexual orientation. These migrants, along with countless others, are waiting for answers and opportunities, hoping for a chance at a better life in Europe.