Ceuta Mayor Threatens Legal Action Amid Ongoing Migrant Crisis and Spain-Italy Tensions

The Spanish government has been given a 30-day ultimatum to resolve the escalating migrant crisis in Ceuta or face legal action, according to the city's mayor-president. Juan Jesus Viva issued the warning on Monday following fresh attempts by migrants to reach the exclave over the weekend, which were successfully thwarted.

An estimated 5,000 to 8,000 migrants remain trapped in the North African exclave following a mass border crossing two weeks ago. On Sunday, hundreds of these individuals staged a protest on a popular urban beach, demanding that Spanish authorities grant them asylum rather than deporting them back to Morocco.

Protesters displayed Spanish flags and carried banners with messages such as “We don't want to go back to Morocco” and “We are also human,” while chanting slogans demanding an immediate resolution. Mr Viva strongly criticized the central government for what he termed “almost total inaction” and announced his intention to pursue legal avenues.

“My intention is to explain the situation to the president of the Supreme Tribunal and the president of the Constitutional Court, if they will accept me. Judicial powers are the cornerstone of the state. Ceuta is living in exceptional times,” Mr Viva stated during an extraordinary meeting of the governing council.

The initial mass border crossing involved more than 72,000 people entering the territory, which has a population of approximately 80,000. While the vast majority subsequently returned either voluntarily or through deportation, the crisis sparked a broader diplomatic standoff involving Italy and other European nations. Rome implemented additional passport checks for Spanish citizens, straining EU free movement, which prompted reciprocal checks from Spain. The Italian government announced it would await an intelligence report before lifting the border restrictions.

Border workers reported that they had previously warned Spain's central government about an impending influx driven by social media, but claimed their warnings were ignored. A Spanish court ruling published on June 29 specified that migrants could only be immediately pushed back if they crossed a physical barrier, excluding those who swam to the exclave. News of this ruling, combined with social media misinformation, encouraged further attempts.

Spanish authorities reported 80 deaths during the initial July rush, while Moroccan officials confirmed 14 recovered bodies, bringing the total to 94. Human rights organizations warn that the actual death toll could be higher due to missing persons.

Online disinformation campaigns have continued to pose challenges. False posts circulated on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook falsely claimed that Spain would open its border on August 15 for the Catholic festival of the Assumption of Mary. In response, Moroccan security forces used tear gas to disperse sub-Saharan African migrants gathered near the border town of Fnideq, resulting in 111 arrests, according to state media.

Henna Virkkunen, executive VP for tech sovereignty, security and democracy of the European Commission, stated that the EU has engaged with social media companies regarding the situation. Platforms including Meta and TikTok have reportedly activated crisis protocols and intensified enforcement efforts against human smuggling and disinformation.