53,000 return to Morocco from Ceuta after mass arrivals

Spanish security forces estimate that around 53,000 people have voluntarily returned to Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. This significant repatriation follows a surge in arrivals, particularly since Thursday, May 30, 2026, according to police sources speaking to EFE.

Initial government estimates placed the number of irregular arrivals in Ceuta at 50,000, though local authorities suggested it could be as high as 60,000. By Friday evening, over 53,000 individuals had crossed back into Morocco. Many cited the repatriation agreement between Spain and Morocco, along with the scarcity of open businesses and services catering to their basic needs in Ceuta, as key factors influencing their decision to leave.

Throughout Friday, July 31, 2026, thousands of migrants headed towards the border to return home. Security forces, including the National Police, Local Police, and military units, were deployed across various areas of Ceuta. Their objective was to inform the migrants still in the city about the necessity of returning to Morocco.

The majority of those arriving in Ceuta were young Moroccan men, aged between 18 and 35, who found themselves without clear direction in different parts of the city. Meanwhile, border control units worked to prevent further sea access. Ceuta remains commercially and economically paralyzed, with businesses closed due to security concerns following the mass influx.