Spain seeks Frontex aid to speed up migrant returns

Spain has formally asked the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and Europol for support in processing the large number of irregular migrants currently in Ceuta. The Ministry of the Interior communicated this request to Beate Gminder, the Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs at the European Commission.

This move marks a significant shift for the Spanish government, which had previously resisted involving Frontex in border control, preferring to rely on its own resources. However, the escalating situation in Ceuta has prompted a change in policy, overriding earlier reservations. The Interior Ministry has reported that approximately 100 individuals have already been deported to Morocco after committing offenses following the mass influx.

The conditions for many migrants in Ceuta remain dire. Hundreds of young Moroccans have been sleeping outdoors for days, hoping to secure a spot in reception centers. Only the first 700 arrivals managed to get beds in military tents set up near the El Tarajal border crossing. Many more remain outside, with local residents expressing frustration over the government's handling of the crisis.

Some residents have directed their anger towards the migrants, leading to incidents of aggression. One migrant reported being stabbed and robbed of his phone, while another required stitches after being hit with a stick. These attacks are attributed by some to local residents fed up with the migrants' presence. The government has announced an increase in aid to 44.5 million euros to manage the situation.