Ceuta, a Spanish city in North Africa, experienced a major crisis when up to 60,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco in July 2026. This sudden increase in people overwhelmed the small city. Many migrants died trying to reach Spanish territory, with reports of at least 67 deaths.
The large number of arrivals seems to be caused by false information spread online and changes in Spanish policy. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that criminal groups used fake news about a court ruling to encourage people to come. Some also believe that Spain's decision earlier in 2026 to give legal status to many undocumented people might have attracted more migrants.
Spain sent military forces and rescue teams to manage the situation. They also planned to build a barrier in the sea. Many of the new arrivals eventually returned to Morocco.
However, the event caused problems between European countries. Italy decided to temporarily stop its open-border agreement with Spain for one month, starting August 1. This meant stricter checks for people arriving from Spain. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this was necessary for security. Spain's Prime Minister Sánchez criticized Italy's action, calling it selfish and against European cooperation. Other countries like France, Denmark, and Finland also increased their border checks with Spain. The situation has led to calls for an emergency meeting of European ministers to find a common solution to border issues.