AI-written summary of reporting by Arab News. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

The Spanish government said on Sunday that more than 5,300 migrants who remained in Ceuta after an influx in July had returned to Morocco over the past month. The announcement comes as the government faces pressure over the speed of returns from the Spanish territory in North Africa.

Arab News

Spain reports over 5,300 migrants returned to Morocco from Ceuta in past month

Spain reports over 5,300 migrants returned to Morocco from Ceuta in past month
Sep 13, 2026, 4:56 PM

The Spanish government said on Sunday that more than 5,300 migrants who remained in Ceuta after an influx in July had returned to Morocco over the past month. The announcement comes as the government faces pressure over the speed of returns from the Spanish territory in North Africa.

Context

More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta on July 30 and 31 in what the source describes as an unprecedented and deadly rush, with most returning to Morocco in the following hours.

The government has been required to identify migrants who remained in Ceuta for weeks to determine whether they are entitled to asylum. Unaccompanied children cannot be summarily deported.

Angel Victor Torres, the minister leading the government's response, said 5,321 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco since August 10. An additional 90 people had given up their request for international protection, and almost 1,000 people were being registered to complete their return proceedings, Torres stated.

The migration ministry announced Sunday the creation of 864 additional places in temporary migrant shelters, bringing the total to around 4,300 with a goal of reaching 6,000 in the near future.

All Perspectives
Spanish government (Torres): Angel Victor Torres said 5,321 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco since August 10, and that 90 people had given up their request for international protection while almost 1,000 people were being registered to complete their return proceedings.
Ceuta's government (Vivas): Juan Jesus Vivas, Ceuta's leader of the main opposition right-wing Popular Party, put the number of migrants remaining in Ceuta at 13,000.
Ceuta locals: Locals have protested regularly as migrants continue to camp on beaches and sleep in the streets, accusing the government of abandoning the overwhelmed city amid a humanitarian crisis.
Position not represented in the source reporting: Morocco — its government's position or response to the returns and influx is not represented in the source..
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not state the total number of migrants remaining in Ceuta after the reported returns.
  • The source does not establish why the government's estimates of remaining migrants differ significantly from Ceuta's leader's figure of 13,000.
  • The source does not provide details on what role Morocco may have played in the July influx or the basis for the questions raised about the government's prior knowledge.
  • The source does not state how many unaccompanied children remain in Ceuta or their processing status.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. Arab News — original

Read the original at Arab News

Related Coverage