Between 30 and 31 July, migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco in a mass entry, with estimates of about 72,000 (Spanish authorities via Notícias ao Minuto) and more than 80,000 (20 minutos).
Minister Elma Saiz gave figures on 13 October showing 11,686 people returned to Morocco since 10 August, 10,161 voluntarily and 525 through expulsion.
A decree-law to speed asylum and returns was due at the Council of Ministers on 29 September but was postponed over legal doubts, with the general election set for 29 November.
In a letter dated 13 October, Ursula von der Leyen asked EU leaders to keep cooperating with Morocco and to support Spain's rapid returns, citing Morocco's commitment to readmit all irregular entrants.
Leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday, 15 October, and Friday, 16 October, and the draft conclusions express solidarity and support for Spain over the Ceuta entry of 30 and 31 July.
Between 30 and 31 July 2026, a mass entry of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish city of Ceuta. Spanish authorities put the number at about 72,000 people according to Notícias ao Minuto, while 20 minutos reports more than 80,000 and ABC cites around 80,000. Most returned to Morocco within 48 hours, but thousands remained in the city, including unaccompanied minors. Government figures given on Tuesday, 13 October, show 11,686 people have returned to Morocco since 10 August, of whom 10,161 returned voluntarily and 525 were expelled.
Minister Elma Saiz presented the figures on Tuesday, and according to them the flow of returns has been steady in recent weeks. A total of 4,432 adults have completed triage, the identification step before a decision on expulsion, return or international protection. The government has delivered 244,612 food kits in Ceuta up to Sunday, 11 October, and enabled 7,477 temporary places. Over the weekend of 10 and 11 October, the beach camps at El Trampolín and El Guano were cleared, which the government described as successful and without notable incidents. Saiz, who is also government spokesperson, called the evictions a turning point.
Data from the article text
About 3,019 unaccompanied minors are registered and cared for in a regional protection centre. Of these, 89 have been reunited with relatives on the mainland and 163 transferred to other regions under the mandatory solidarity mechanism of article 35 of the foreigners' law. More than 250 minors have been relocated to the mainland since the crisis began, and 35 case files have been sent to Morocco for a possible return.
Data from the article text
In a letter sent on Tuesday, 13 October, ahead of the summit, Ursula von der Leyen urged the EU to keep working with Morocco on migration and security toward a future comprehensive strategic partnership. She said the Commission will keep supporting Spanish authorities to ensure rapid returns of people who entered and remain irregularly in Ceuta, citing Morocco's commitment to readmit them all. The letter also says the Ceuta events showed how quickly sudden mass arrivals can press on the EU's external borders at a tragic human cost. According to ABC, the letter seeks an emergency framework for cases where migration is used as a weapon, allowing hot returns, expanded Frontex powers and a higher deportation rate. ABC adds that Spain alone refused to authorise a new returns directive at the last Interior Ministers' Council, although it passed by qualified majority.
A decree-law to speed asylum procedures and returns was due at the Council of Ministers on 29 September but was postponed over doubts about its legal fit, according to La Razón. The paper says Interior has not yet produced a proposal that can win backing within the Government of Pedro Sánchez. EL MUNDO reports that Socialist sources said no draft had been prepared, while Sumar, the coalition partner, rejects any change that reduces guarantees for migrants. Commissioner Magnus Brunner told Spain that the Commission would fully support any measure to return those remaining illegally in Ceuta. The MEP Estrella Galán said the day after that Council meeting:
“We, the Sumar parliamentary group and the Sumar ministers, are the ones who have stopped the royal decree.”
Leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday, 15 October, and Friday, 16 October, with migration on the agenda for a strategic debate. A draft of the conclusions, which Europa Press has seen, expresses solidarity and support for Spain over the entry of thousands of migrants into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July, and refers separately to Ceuta and Melilla as the EU's only land borders with the African continent. In Spain, La Razón reports the decree remains unapproved ahead of the general election on 29 November.
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Ursula von der Leyen wrote to EU leaders on 13 October 2026 urging faster returns of migrants who entered Ceuta irregularly in July and continued cooperation with Morocco. Spain's decree to speed those returns is still pending in Madrid ahead of the general election on 29 November.
AI text based on reports by 20 minutos, Notícias ao Minuto, ABC TU DIARIO EN ESPAÑOL and other publishers. Published .