Migrants Hide Across Ceuta to Evade Deportation to Morocco

Migrants entering Ceuta, Spain’s autonomous enclave in North Africa, are resorting to hiding in a multitude of locations to avoid being deported back to Morocco. Reports indicate they are sheltering under bridges, on rooftops, along beaches, in parks, and even inside sewers.

These individuals are moving in small groups, posing a challenge for security forces attempting to detain them. Despite Spain's reinforcement of security personnel, including police officers, Civil Guard, and military forces, the number of migrants present on the streets and coastline is said to far outnumber the patrols.

Many migrants appear exhausted, carrying minimal belongings, and some have approached passersby for food or money. Local residents have also begun to avoid the coastal area near the Tarajal border crossing due to the heightened tensions. This situation follows a sharp surge in migrant arrivals in late July, which saw an estimated 60,000 people enter Ceuta within a 24-hour period, triggering unrest and prompting the Spanish government's security response.