Ceuta threatens legal action over migrant crisis pitting Italy against Spain

The Spanish government has been given a 30-day deadline to address the migrant crisis in Ceuta, or the city may take legal action. Mayor-President Juan Jesus Viva warned of the looming court proceedings after new attempts to reach the exclave were unsuccessful. An estimated 5,000 to 8,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after a mass border crossing two weeks ago.

Protesters staged a demonstration on a local beach, pleading for Spanish authorities to grant them asylum instead of returning them to Morocco. Viva accused the government of "almost total inaction" and threatened to present the situation to the Supreme and Constitutional Courts. The crisis sparked a dispute between Spain and Italy, with Rome implementing additional passport checks for citizens.

Spain reciprocated with reciprocal checks, affecting EU citizens' border-free movement. Border workers had warned the central government of an anticipated influx, but their concerns were ignored. A court ruling on June 29 stated that migrants could only be stopped if they crossed a physical barrier, not by swimming. This ruling and videos of successful crossings encouraged more migrants to attempt entry.

Spain blamed the surge on misinformation from criminal networks, while Moroccan authorities claimed 14 bodies were recovered. Human rights groups believe the death toll may be higher. Social media platforms were criticized for spreading disinformation, with Meta and TikTok activating crisis protocols to address the issue.