Thousands of migrants return to Ceuta beaches after port reception camps reach capacity

Around 4,000 migrants were residing in makeshift settlements along Benítez and El Trampolín beaches in Ceuta, while two reception areas in the city's port had reached capacity with around 1,700 people each. This led to the relocation of many migrants back to the beaches, as they were unable to secure accommodation in the port. The transfer operation, involving approximately 150 police officers, Guardia Civil, and military personnel, began shortly before 7am and lasted about five hours.

The majority of the migrants in the operation were male. Initial confusion and tension arose as hundreds of migrants gathered on the beaches and rushed towards the port once police reinforcements arrived. At one point, a crowd crush occurred and several individuals were injured as police attempted to control the situation. Children present in the groups were removed from the relocation process due to the reception center's adult-only policy.

The Ceuta Port Authority and police representatives criticized the lack of coordination and poor planning, with the Port Authority's president, Juan Manuel Doncel, stating that the port had effectively been occupied for 50 days. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused the government of failing to maintain public order in Ceuta.