Videos of Moroccan migrants entering Spain after swimming around border barriers go viral; 'Declare national emergency'

Chilling videos captured the moment thousands of migrants joyfully entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Thursday, swimming or using inflatable devices to reach Tarajal beach. The influx overwhelmed Civil Guard officers and led Ceuta's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, to urge the Spanish government to declare a national emergency.

The situation, which has garnered international attention amid ongoing debates about illegal migration, prompted an agreement between Spain and Morocco for the urgent return of these individuals. However, no specific timeline for these returns has been established.

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The situation is absolute chaos. It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing. The border had “totally collapsed”.

Reports indicate that between 2,000 and 3,000 people crossed into Ceuta, with some scaling the border fence. Rachid Sbihi, representing Guardia Civil officers in Ceuta, described the situation as "absolute chaos" and stated that the border had "totally collapsed."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that his government would provide an "immediate response" and mobilize all necessary resources. He emphasized cooperation with Moroccan and international authorities to restore normalcy, recalling a similar border crisis in 2021 when over 8,000 people arrived in Ceuta within two days. The Moroccan embassy in Madrid attributed the crossings to criminal organizations involved in human trafficking, stating that authorities do not condone such movements.

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We’re mobilising all necessary resources, working with Moroccan and international authorities, and preparing the necessary measures to restore normalcy as soon as possible. I just conveyed this to President Vivas. This is the moment to build solutions, with responsibility and cooperation.