Lager für Migranten: Spaniens Regierung übernimmt Kontrolle über Hafen von Ceuta

In an ongoing dispute over the accommodation of migrants in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, Madrid's left-leaning government has taken control of the territory's port. Transport Minister Óscar Puente signed a corresponding order, allowing the construction of a makeshift tent camp for migrants within the port area, according to RTVE and other Spanish media.

Puente overruled a conflicting decision by local authorities. The ministry initially did not respond to a request for comment. The regional government, led by the president of the enclave bordering Morocco, Juan Jesús Vivas, had previously opposed the establishment of such a tent camp in the port area. The port is crucial for supplying the enclave, which is near a large fuel depot.

Earlier, the local administration had also opposed temporary housing for migrants in a former factory, a former military hospital, or sports centers. Another camp for about 900 people is currently being built in the Los Rosales district, also facing local protests. As of July 30th and 31st, around 72,000 migrants are believed to have swum or climbed over border fences from Morocco to Ceuta.

Most returned within hours, but about 5,000 migrants remained in the area, which is smaller than Frankfurt Airport, even a month later. Of these, 1,200 are minors. Demonstrations and violent attacks on migrants have been frequent among the enclave's nearly 83,000 residents, many of whom are angry about the long presence of thousands of migrants.

While many demand that migrants be deported immediately to Morocco, Spain is legally obligated to conduct a lengthy case-by-case examination. The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is therefore under intense pressure. There are also significant doubts about their portrayal of Marokko's government not having anything to do with the mass influx at the end of July. More: Has Spain failed in the migration crisis in Ceuta?