Spain moved quickly on Friday to control a major border crisis after tens of thousands of migrants entered Ceuta, its North African territory, from Morocco. The mass crossing left dozens dead and sparked concern across Europe.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Ceuta, a small Spanish city on the Mediterranean coast that shares a border with Morocco. He called the mass entry a “violation of Spain’s territorial sovereignty.”
Juan Jesús Vivas, the president of Ceuta’s autonomous government, said at least 34 migrants had died during the crossings.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said around 50,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday, more than half of the city’s usual population. The ministry added that about half of them had returned to Morocco by Friday.
The large-scale arrivals created political pressure for Sánchez, whose government supports more open immigration policies. The situation also raised concerns across Europe over border security and migration.
France announced that it would increase checks along its border with Spain. Italy also threatened to suspend Spain from the European Union’s open-border system.
Spanish authorities deployed military personnel along the coast and major roads to control the crowds and strengthen security.
