What really happened in Ceuta? Why we may never find out
Following a mass border crossing in Ceuta that resulted in significant casualties, the Spanish government claims most migrants have returned to Morocco. Local residents describe the event as an unprecedented crisis that has left the community divided and fearful.
Why it matters
The Ceuta border crisis highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding migration in the European Union and the humanitarian impact on border communities.
SEVILLE, Spain — When Juanjo Coronado wrote back to NPR, two weeks after the July 30 mass border crossing in Ceuta, to send an update on how he and his daughter were doing, he sent just one line: "same, which means worse."
Weeks after the mass crossing, in which more than 140 people died, Spain is trying to close the chapter. The government says that most of the over 70,000 migrants who crossed into Ceuta the week of July 27 are back in Morocco, and that they returned of their own accord.
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