Spain begins deploying army; reports of at least 18 migrants killed

Spain has begun deploying the army following a sharp increase in the number of migrants who crossed the border of Ceuta, with reports of at least 18 deaths. More than 20,000 people crossed the border, and hundreds of minors are under the care of the local government. The governor warned of a state of chaos, similar to the crisis of May 2021.

Spain has begun deploying the army following a sharp and sudden increase in the number of migrants crossing the border of the enclave of Ceuta, with reports of at least 18 deaths. More than 20,000 people crossed the border, and some lost their lives during the journey. The local governor warned: "We are on the way to chaos." The enclave of Ceuta, one of the only two land borders of the European Union with Africa, is experiencing a humanitarian crisis. Between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, more than 100 Moroccan minors and hundreds of adults swam into Ceuta. About 700 Moroccan minors are under the care of the Ceuta government, 20 times its official capacity. The adult center hosts far beyond its official quota of 512 residents. Those arriving by sea are now protected following a new court ruling stating that migrants cannot be immediately returned. The Spanish government recently enacted an amnesty for illegal migrants, under which at least 1.3 million of them applied for residency status. In Italy, there were demands to close the EU's common border system, despite there being no common border between the countries.