Thousands of migrants swam to Ceuta, city seeks declaration of a state of emergency
JUCIL claims that more than 5,000 people entered Ceuta and calls for sending the army to restore control.
Thousands of migrants from Morocco yesterday mass-entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta, after which the city and security services asked Madrid to declare a state of emergency.
Calls for military intervention after services became overwhelmed
The association of members of the Spanish Civil Guard JUCIL said that there are about 550 personnel in Ceuta, a number which, according to them, is not sufficient to deal with the current influx. JUCIL asked the Government in Madrid to send the army to help establish control at the border and described the situation as an unprecedented security and humanitarian crisis.
The association says that in recent days more than 5,000 people have entered the city, which exceeds the capacities of the security and emergency services. According to JUCIL, the migrant pressure has shifted mainly to the sea, especially at Tarajal beach, where daily interceptions that previously numbered between 100 and 200 people have increased "50 times", forcing almost all resources to be redirected to rescue and humanitarian activities.
The association also warns of insufficient equipment: the Maritime Service is operating with too few vessels, many of which are broken and do not guarantee the safety of the personnel. JUCIL also complains of a shortage of appropriate vehicles and says that large vehicles are sometimes used that are not practical for daily surveillance and rapid response at the border.
According to them, the Center for Temporary Stay of Immigrants (CETI) is seriously overcrowded, and the city faces depleted food reserves, an increased number of burglaries in homes and the risk of attacks on supermarkets if the influx continues. JUCIL emphasizes that saving lives remains a priority, but warns that the mass rescue operations reduce the capacity to combat drug smuggling and other criminal activities on the southern border.
The association recalled that this year 30 people have lost their lives in attempts to reach Ceuta by sea, which, according to them, illustrates the danger of those journeys. A prominent tweet appeared on social networks: "Insane footage from the Moroccan border with Spain: thousands of migrants are gathering at the border This is exactly what Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez was aiming for. pic.twitter.com/Fb1pEKU0jj" — Visegrád 24, July 30, 2026.
Photo: Screenshot / X/@visegrad24
