Minister Faces Backlash in Ceuta Amid Migrant Crisis

Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande Marlasca, encountered significant anger from residents of Ceuta as he sought solutions following a substantial influx of illegal immigrants into the city. His visit, which took place on Thursday, marked his second trip to the Spanish enclave since thousands of migrants entered in late July.

Rather than a warm reception, the minister was met by an agitated crowd of local residents. They gathered outside the main government building to voice their frustrations about the ongoing migrant crisis, which remains unresolved. Video footage showed protesters hurling insults at Grande Marlasca, labeling him a “traitor,” “coward,” and “rat,” while demanding government accountability in light of the situation left by the invasion.

More than twenty members of the National Police were stationed at the building’s entrance when the minister arrived. During the protests, some demonstrators attempted to bring in eggs, only to have them confiscated by staff. Amid the shouting, phrases like “enough is enough” echoed through the crowd.

Local news reported that chants such as “Marlasca, you are leaving, but Ceuta remains” filled the air, emphasizing the residents’ determination to be heard. One local expressed frustration, saying, “They’ve been circling around for the past week without actually doing anything. They could have all shown up on the first day, assessed the situation together and taken decisive action on the second day. They are a bunch of cowards.”

After discussions with local officials, Marlasca acknowledged that it would take “time” for conditions in Ceuta to return to normal, similar to how they were before the invasion on July 29. He assured reporters of the Spanish government’s commitment to resolving the situation promptly, which he described as contrary to the necessary normalcy required for coexistence.

To expedite deportation procedures, Marlasca announced the deployment of an additional 270 police officers and 200 private security personnel to Ceuta. He emphasized that migrants who entered the city illegally “will not be allowed to stay or be transferred” to mainland Spain and will not receive immigration regularization benefits.

Estimates regarding the number of migrants still in Ceuta vary significantly. While Marlasca stated there were around “5,000” migrants, Ceuta’s municipal president, Juan Jesús Vivas, countered that nearly 10,000 illegal immigrants remain in the enclave following the chaotic events. A recent report indicated that over 5,000 of these individuals may qualify for asylum or other protections under Spanish law.

Vivas admitted, “We don’t have the means or resources to accurately determine that number. We can only make inferences based on certain indicators.” He elaborated on the situation, noting, “At El Trampoline, we serve 4,500 meals every day. Social organizations provide around 3,500 meals a day, and centers for unaccompanied minors have accepted an additional 500 since the recent surge. These estimates only consider those utilizing aid resources, so actual numbers remain uncertain.”