On Monday, two high-ranking officers from the Spanish security forces testified before the judge investigating the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta, stating that Moroccan agents stood idly by during the events of July 30 and 31, and that some actively facilitated the passage of people into the Spanish city. According to legal sources cited by EFE, more than 72,000 people entered from Morocco over those two days.

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A lieutenant colonel of the Guardia Civil—who serves as head of operations for the Ceuta Command—and a chief inspector of the National Police in the autonomous city provided testimony to the magistrate overseeing the case regarding the migration crisis. Both linked the actions of the Moroccan authorities to the mass influx of migrants.

The National Police chief inspector asserted that Moroccan agents facilitated the crossing into Ceuta. He described uniformed personnel—dressed in gray and khaki—as well as individuals in plainclothes, gesturing for the migrants to move forward. He also claimed to have seen people directing a very long line from Morocco toward Spain.

For his part, the Guardia Civil lieutenant colonel maintained that Moroccan military personnel stood by with their arms at their sides during the influx. He noted that while they took an active stance toward sub-Saharan migrants attempting to cross, they remained passive when it came to their own compatriots.

The Guardia Civil officer recounted that other agents allegedly directed people from the beach toward the breakwater that separates Ceuta from Morocco. He indicated that the Moroccan military steered migrants into the water, forcing Spanish security personnel to pull individuals from the sea to save their lives.

MASS MIGRATION: Insane footage shows thousands of migrants entering Spain from Morocco pic.twitter.com/WHDbDEmPML

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) July 30, 2026

Furthermore, he claimed to have seen Moroccan vessels picking up people during the influx and subsequently dropping them off on the beach. He explained that these were small craft, as larger vessels could not approach the coast.

On the night before the mass entry, the lieutenant colonel stated that he had spotted six Moroccan vessels: two patrol boats, two interceptors, and two smaller craft. The officer noted that it was striking that, on a day with fog, there were six Moroccan Navy vessels in the area.

He also stated that he had received no warning regarding a mass entry planned for July 30. He pointed out that prior coordination meetings were not held for that purpose, and that it was never communicated to him that there was a planned influx for Throne Day—a national holiday in Morocco.

A National Police inspector explained that, overall, the arrival of migrants had increased three- to fourfold compared to previous years. However, he noted that in the days leading up to the events, the increase had been exponential.

The investigation seeks to clarify the circumstances surrounding the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta—one of the most significant border crises between Spain and Morocco in recent years.

Spain’s government has declared that the first phase of its emergency response to the Ceuta migration crisis has been completed, following the arrival of an estimated 80,000 migrants from Morocco at the end of July.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Friday, 16 October, that approximately 12,000 people had returned voluntarily to Morocco since August, while the authorities had expanded facilities to process asylum applications and return decisions.

Nevertheless, substantial administrative and humanitarian challenges remain in the Spanish enclave, particularly concerning people awaiting decisions on their legal status and unaccompanied minors. The situation has become an important test of the European Union’s revised migration and asylum legislation.

Unprecedented crossings at the African border

The crisis began on 30 July, when tens of thousands of people entered Ceuta from Morocco by land and sea following the circulation of misleading information on social media about access to Spanish territory.

According to an October briefing by the European Parliament’s Research Service, approximately 80,000 people crossed into the enclave during the incident, overwhelming local reception facilities and creating an emergency at one of the EU’s few land borders with Africa.

A subsequent European Parliament resolution referred to at least 141 deaths associated with the crossings, although the initial figure reported by Spanish authorities was lower. The exact number of people who crossed and the final death toll have remained subjects of uncertainty.

Most entrants returned to Morocco within days. However, thousands remained, leaving Spain responsible for assessing individual claims, arranging lawful returns and providing appropriate accommodation.

Ceuta’s geographical position complicates these procedures. Although the enclave is Spanish and forms part of the EU, travellers departing for mainland Spain remain subject to specific controls at its ports and airports.

Spain expands its processing capacity

During a visit to Ceuta on 16 October, Grande-Marlaska defended the government’s management of the emergency and announced that additional police resources would substantially increase administrative capacity.

The expanded temporary reception and processing facilities at El Tarajal are intended to handle at least 100 files daily, including applications for international protection and return procedures.

According to figures presented by the Interior Minister, approximately 1,200 applications for international protection had been formally submitted, with around 700 decisions already issued.

He also rejected allegations that the authorities had conducted concealed or involuntary returns, insisting that departures to Morocco had followed voluntary decisions or the appropriate legal procedures.

The minister said more than 500 expulsions had been executed through judicial or administrative decisions in recent months. These are distinct from the approximately 12,000 voluntary returns recorded since August.

The treatment of unaccompanied minors remains contentious. The European Parliament’s research briefing estimated that around 1,100 such minors were in Ceuta, including some who arrived before the July emergency.

Responsibility for their care has generated disagreement between the Spanish central government and Ceuta’s autonomous administration, particularly over guardianship, identification and the distribution of minors to other regions.

New EU asylum system faces a practical test

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which began applying in June 2026, was designed to strengthen external border procedures while establishing clearer responsibilities for Member States.

Its provisions include identity and security screening, accelerated procedures for certain asylum applications and a solidarity mechanism allowing countries to support those facing disproportionate migration pressures.

Under the screening rules, the authorities generally have up to seven days to complete the initial checks required for people apprehended after irregular entry.

However, the Ceuta emergency demonstrates the difficulty of applying individual administrative procedures when arrivals occur in exceptionally large numbers within a short period.

The geographical concentration of arrivals means that adequate staffing, interpretation, legal assistance and reception facilities become essential to ensuring the system operates within its prescribed deadlines.

Spain requested assistance from Frontex, Europol and the European Union Agency for Asylum in August. The Commission subsequently announced €114.7 million in emergency assistance in September.

Political dispute over migration policy

The crisis has widened divisions between European governments over border enforcement and the regularisation of migrants already living within the EU.

Italy and several other Member States have questioned whether Spain’s separate regularisation programme could encourage further irregular migration. Madrid rejects the suggestion that the programme caused the Ceuta crossings.

The Spanish scheme covers only people who met the residence requirements by the end of 2025. Those who arrived during the July 2026 crisis are not eligible.

European Parliament members also adopted a resolution in September calling for stronger protection of the EU’s external borders and greater cooperation with Morocco. The resolution characterised the crisis as involving the possible instrumentalisation of migration, although Spain has said it has no evidence establishing Moroccan government involvement.

The continuing administrative backlog, the position of minors and the effectiveness of EU assistance will determine how quickly Ceuta can return to ordinary border operations.

Beyond Spain, the episode raises a practical question for Brussels: whether Europe’s new asylum framework can maintain border controls and individual legal safeguards simultaneously during an exceptionally large and sudden influx.