Thousands of migrants cross from Morocco into Spanish enclave Ceuta

Around 40,000 migrants crossed illegally into Ceuta, a Spanish city in North Africa, over about one week in late July 2026. Most people entered by swimming or walking along the coast from Morocco. The crossing overwhelmed local facilities, and between 11 and 88 people died, with Spain and Morocco giving different numbers. About 1,135 migrants were stopped from entering the nearby enclave of Melilla. Ceuta's regional leader called the event an "atrocity" and accused Morocco of allowing it to happen. Morocco's government blamed social media misinformation and people-smuggling networks. The Ceuta government asked Spain to declare a national emergency. The incident has damaged diplomatic relations between Spain and Morocco over how the two countries manage migration at their shared border.