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Ceuta returns to calm as most migrants leave Spanish territory
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Over the weekend, most of the 60,000 migrants who surged into Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa, had returned to Morocco or tried to stay hidden, while Spanish authorities continued searching for migrant bodies in nearby waters.
- At least 72 migrants died during the border crossing, including from drowning and a stampede, reigniting debates on immigration policies in Europe and raising questions about border management.
- Far-right Spanish politicians, including Vox party leader Santiago Abascal, called for the expulsion of remaining migrants and criticized the government’s handling of the situation, sparking counterprotests from Ceuta’s diverse local population.
- The crisis has strained Ceuta’s tradition of multicultural coexistence, with some residents expressing concerns about loyalty and social cohesion amid fears of internal divisions.
- Pope Leo XIV expressed concern over the situation in Ceuta, praying for peace, stability, and justice in response to the humanitarian crisis.
