Spain Reinforces Ceuta and Melilla Ahead of Feared New Mass Crossing

Spain has reinforced its borders at Ceuta and Melilla amid warnings of a possible new attempt by migrants to cross from Morocco on 23 September, the day of the country’s parliamentary elections.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska confirmed the preventive deployment during a visit to Ceuta on Monday, saying Spanish authorities were continuously assessing information about the potential threat.

Three additional Guardia Civil platoons have been deployed as part of the reinforcement, with security increased at both Spanish territories in North Africa.

The warnings follow messages circulating on social media calling for another mass crossing on 23 September. Spanish authorities have stressed that the messages represent a potential threat rather than confirmation that another crossing will take place.

Marlaska said Spain had established an intelligence and information operation to monitor the warnings and was working with Moroccan authorities.

The preparations come less than two months after the mass influx into Ceuta at the end of July.

More than 2,500 adults and around 1,700 minors who entered during the July crisis have now gone through identification procedures, according to figures given by Marlaska.

Thousands nevertheless remain outside formal accommodation.

Marlaska estimated that between 3,000 and 3,500 migrants are still living outside reception facilities in Ceuta, while the government currently has more than 6,000 accommodation places available. It is working to increase capacity to between 9,000 and 10,000.

The government is also accelerating the processing of migrants already in the territory, with more than 100 adult identification procedures expected to be conducted each day.

Marlaska said Morocco continued to cooperate with Spain over returns and argued that the overwhelming majority of Moroccan nationals without a right to international protection would ultimately be returned.

The immediate focus, however, is now on preventing another large-scale crossing.

With the Moroccan election taking place on Wednesday, Spanish authorities have reinforced both Ceuta and Melilla before the date highlighted in the online calls, while intelligence services continue to assess whether those calls will translate into activity at the border.

Sources

• Infobae / EFE: Interior reinforces security at the borders in Ceuta and Melilla
• Málaga Hoy: Marlaska reinforces Ceuta and Melilla amid alerts over 23 September
• Ceuta Actualidad: Marlaska addresses returns and migrant accommodation in Ceuta