Politics 54 minors swim from Morocco to Ceuta
A total of 54 minors have swum from Morocco across the Mediterranean to the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta. Most of them were Moroccans, reported the Spanish state TV station RTVE. Rescue workers were deployed throughout the night and the following day to rescue swimmers from the sea. The route from Morocco to Ceuta through the sea is between 300 and 500 meters long.
26.07.2025, 20:32
SDA
Reception centers for minors overcrowded
Television footage showed how some of the migrants were also brought to the beach in Ceuta in a rubber dinghy. There was initially no news of any deaths. While adults are usually deported back quickly, unaccompanied minors are allowed to stay - at least until they are 18. However, the reception capacities are overloaded and the regional government has asked the government in Madrid to bring young people to the mainland.
From Morocco, migrants repeatedly try to reach one of the two Spanish exclaves in North Africa, Melilla as well as Ceuta. People from Morocco and other African countries hope for a better life on the Spanish mainland or in other EU countries.
Four years ago, there was a mass influx of 8,000 migrants
The biggest rush to date was on May 17, 2021, when around 8,000 migrants swam through the sea to Ceuta or ran along the beach and climbed over the border fence. Morocco had effectively opened its border for a short time. One of the swimmers died at the time. Just over a year later, at least 23 migrants died trying to get over the fence to the exclave of Melilla.
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, almost 20,000 migrants have arrived in Spain so far this year, including 1,500 people in Ceuta.
