Chaos as Migrants Are Moved Off Beaches in Ceuta
Ceuta, Spain — September 18, 2026 — Chaotic scenes unfolded in Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta on Friday as police began moving hundreds of migrants from beaches to temporary accommodation at the city’s port.

The operation began early in the morning after thousands of migrants had spent weeks living on beaches in difficult conditions. Police and Spanish military personnel were deployed to help carry out the relocation.

Crowds Clash Over Limited Shelter
The situation became tense when migrants rushed toward the temporary camp, hoping to secure one of the limited spaces available.

The new camp at the port has capacity for around 1,700 people, far fewer than the number of migrants still living in Ceuta. Video footage showed crowds pushing and jostling as police attempted to control the movement.

Spanish riot police fired rubber bullets into the air and used batons during the operation. The situation was eventually brought under control, and groups of migrants were escorted along the route from the beaches to the port.

Thousands Still Without Shelter
The crisis began in late July, when more than 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta during an unprecedented surge. Most later returned to Morocco, but thousands remained in the Spanish territory.

Spanish central government estimates put the number still in Ceuta at around 10,000, while local authorities have given a higher estimate of approximately 13,000. Many migrants have been sleeping outdoors or in makeshift camps.

Ceuta is a small Spanish territory covering only about 18.5 square kilometres, making the sudden arrival of tens of thousands of people a major challenge for local authorities.

A Crisis That Is Far From Over
Friday’s operation was intended to move migrants away from the beaches and into temporary facilities. However, the limited capacity of the new camp means that many people remain without accommodation.

The Spanish government described the relocation as an important step toward managing the crisis, while local authorities and opposition politicians have criticised the handling of the situation.

The humanitarian situation has also increased tensions among local residents, with protests taking place over the continued presence of migrants in the territory.

For now, authorities face the difficult task of providing temporary accommodation, processing asylum claims and determining the status of thousands of migrants while managing growing tensions in the small enclave.

Sources
Reuters — Spanish police launch operation to clear Ceuta migrants off beach Read Reuters report
BBC World Service — Chaos as migrants moved off beaches in Ceuta BBC World Service report
Al Jazeera / AFP & Reuters — Police clear Ceuta migrants off beaches in Spanish enclave Read Al Jazeera report
El País — Chaotic scenes as Spanish police clear Ceuta migrants from beaches Read El País report