Rising Attempts to Reach Ceuta by Sea
Early Saturday, some 100 migrants, including several children, attempted to swim from Morocco to Spain’s north African enclave of Ceuta. The attempt was under conditions of fog, making it easy for the attempted migrants to go undetected. Nonetheless, most were intercepted by Spanish and Moroccan security personnel, as well as rescue boats, in spite of the difficult weather conditions. However, seven children managed to make it ashore safely and were turned over to local authorities.
The seas off Ceuta are perilously treacherous, with powerful currents and a long border wall running into the ocean to stop illegal entrants. Migrants attempt to swim in large groups at night or in fog to elude capture, but those caught are typically returned to Morocco.
Ceuta’s Overwhelmed Reception System
The influx of arrivals has taken Ceuta’s capacity to the breaking point, particularly regarding unaccompanied minors. Juan Jesús Rivas, conservative city president of Ceuta, recently termed the crisis “totally overwhelmed.” He appealed to the rest of Spanish regions to assist in sharing the burden, underlining that Ceuta, a small 20 square kilometer area, is hosting 3% of Spain’s minors despite being small in size.
Alberto Gaitán, government spokesperson of Ceuta, confirmed that the enclave now has 528 foreign children even if it was only ready for 27. In order to meet the burden, contingency measures are on their way to shift a large number of children to other regions of Spain. Approximately 450 minors have been transferred to other regions between 2021 and 2024, and another 80 moved because of family reunions.
Political Divisions and Human Costs
Spain’s socialist-led government recently approved a decree to resettle more than 4,400 foreign children who are sheltered throughout the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. The initiative is intended to release pressure from overcrowded centers but has been criticized. The conservative People’s Party (PP) described the decree as “arbitrary and unfair,” and the far-right Vox party complained about security risks and cultural differences. Even some PP-governed regions boycotted child redistribution meetings.
Meanwhile, the human toll continues. According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration, 572 people died or went missing attempting to cross from North Africa to Spain last year. So far in 2025, 155 have perished, including seven children. Stories like a 23-year-old Egyptian found drifting on an inflatable ring and a young boy seen clinging to plastic bottles highlight the desperate risks migrants take to reach Europe.
