What happened

Spain announced a plan to install a containment barrier on the sea border between Ceuta and Morocco after a surge in migrant crossings earlier in the week. Spain said the containment barrier would be 500 metres long along the sea border near Ceuta.

Spain reported a rise in the death toll from the earlier incident to 67 people. The deaths included people who drowned and others who were killed in a stampede while attempting to cross a breakwater barrier.

Spain stated that Spanish troops met some migrants at Tarajal beach (Ceuta) and escorted many back across the border. Spain’s Interior Ministry said most people who entered had already returned to Morocco. Spain also said the government would continue taking action against people who break the law.

Background and earlier position

Ceuta is a North African Spanish territory, and its borders with Morocco sit on the Mediterranean migration route. When migrant crossings rise around such territorial borders, destination states typically combine physical border measures with policing and returns to manage illegal entry and safety risks.

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