Police clear Ceuta migrants off beaches in Spanish enclave
Spanish police have begun clearing thousands of migrants from beaches in the North African enclave of Ceuta following a record influx in July. Authorities are moving individuals to temporary housing facilities near the port as tensions rise over migration policies.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the ongoing humanitarian and political challenges of migration at the EU's southern borders and its impact on European domestic politics.
At least 10,000 of the 72,000 migrants who broke through fence from Morocco in July remain in the Spanish enclave.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Hundreds of migrants from the beaches of Ceuta are rounded up by police before being moved to a temporary camp in the Spanish enclave's port area, weeks after a record influx overwhelmed the territory [Screengrab/AFP] By AFP and Reuters Published On 18 Sep 2026 18 Sep 2026 Spanish police have started clearing thousands of migrants from the beaches of Ceuta, an enclave on North Africa’s coast which saw a surge of arrivals from neighbouring Morocco in July.
Riot police fired rubber bullets into the air and struck people with batons on Friday as they began an operation, which started shortly before 7am local time (05:00 GMT).
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in