Despite repeated assurances from the Spanish government that the migration crisis in Ceuta is easing, residents of the Spanish exclave say the emergency is far from over. While Madrid maintains that most of the migrants who crossed into the city from Morocco have already left, accounts from local residents, the city government and regional media paint a different picture.
Although daily life is slowly returning to normal after businesses shut their doors during the weekend emergency, thousands of migrants are reportedly still in Ceuta, hiding from security forces deployed throughout the city.
The city government says reception centers remain overwhelmed, operating at 2872% above capacity. At the same time, videos allegedly showing remaining migrants shouting “Allahu Akbar” have reignited public debate on the integration of Muslim immigrants in Europe.
Local reports indicate that many migrants have fled into the wooded hills, forests and beaches surrounding Ceuta to avoid being returned to Morocco. According to the Spanish newspaper ABC, groups of around 20 young men have established makeshift camps around the city.
Spanish police and military units are now conducting searches across roads, forests and hillsides in an effort to locate those still hiding. Migrants reportedly leave their camps only to collect food or wash on nearby beaches, carrying their belongings in garbage bags. The growing presence of these camps has created new concerns for nearby communities. Locals reported several attempted break-ins at nearby homes.
“They’ve already tried to break into three houses,” one resident said, claiming some migrants had gathered against the walls of homes before being driven away by residents. Others criticized the authorities for concentrating patrols inside the city while leaving the surrounding hills insufficiently monitored. There have also reportedly been attempts to occupy vacant buildings.
“It’s like an apocalypse. Crowds of people everywhere,” a local business owner told Spanish broadcaster RTVE, adding that migrants were bathing in public fountains and sleeping on the streets because officials were “unable” to control the chaos,
Videos circulating on social media have further fueled concerns. One widely shared clip allegedly shows a knife attack in Ceuta. Spanish authorities have confirmed that two people suffered stab wounds during the unrest.
Youtuber Nick Shirley, who gained fame by exposing the rampant fraud of daycare centers in Minnesota, visited the Spanish enclave to report on the situation after the wave of migrants arrived. Shortly after he began filming, a Muslim immigrant chased him and his camera crew with a knife. “Welcome to modern day Spain,” Shirley wrote on X.
