Arabic version: عودة مهاجرين من سبتة بعد عبور بحري جماعي للحدود

According to France 24, Spanish officials said that more than 48,000 migrants had returned to Morocco after around 50,000 people crossed by sea into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave bordering Morocco. The report was issued on August 1, 2026.

Judith Sunderland, Senior Associate Director at Human Rights Watch, said the return of many people who reached Ceuta was chaotic and that exact figures remained unclear. France 24 reported that 57 people were reported to have died during the crisis.

The borders are heavily fortified, Sunderland said, making crossings extremely difficult and dangerous. Ceuta is part of Spain and the Schengen free-movement area, but special rules apply to the enclave, making it difficult for migrants to travel onwards from there.

France and Italy also strengthened border controls on Saturday. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the suspension of Schengen free movement between Spain and Italy.