Spain's Ceuta grapples with aftermath of border surge

Ceuta, a Spanish enclave with a population of 84,000, found itself grappling with the aftermath of a surge in North African migrants entering the territory. Most of the 60,000 migrants had been returned to Morocco by Sunday, but the city, known for its multicultural identity, was still reeling from the border crisis. Shops reopened, and residents and tourists returned to the city's open-air terraces, restaurants, and cafes.

However, the ongoing debate over the cause of the surge and the blame for the humanitarian crisis it caused was far from resolved.

Spanish civil guard ships continued their search for migrant bodies near the breached urban beach, where at least 72 people had died, including some who drowned and others killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier. Mohamad Abdelkader Driss, a 44-year-old waiter, blamed the authorities for the crisis, stating that the young men responsible for the surge were not to blame. He lamented the event but praised the behavior of the migrants who had breached the border.

The surge in migrant arrivals swelled Ceuta's population by more than half, causing concerns among locals about the city's multicultural harmony. Far-right, anti-immigrant Spanish politicians and right-wing influencers descended on the city, sparking counterprotests that included members of the city's large Muslim population. Far-right Spanish politician Alvise Pérez called for migrants to be expelled, and Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, slammed the Spanish government for failing to protect the borders of Ceuta and Melilla.

Despite the city's diverse population of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus living in relative harmony, locals were worried about the implications of the surge. Eva Barrientos, a 20-year-old Ceuta resident, expressed her concerns, accusing some foreign-born residents of having more loyalty to Morocco than to Spain. Pope Leo XIV expressed concern over the alarming situation in Ceuta, praying for peace, stability, and justice to be found in the humanitarian crisis.