The Spanish Government says that the large-scale voluntary and forced returns of migrants who crossed en masse into Ceuta at the end of July have gathered pace. In a press briefing on 8 October, Minister for Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres confirmed that 11,026 individuals have either been expelled or accepted assisted return to Morocco since 10 August. A further 2,783 returns were processed in the past nine days alone, the highest weekly figure since operations began. Authorities attribute the spike partly to the police clearance of the Trampolín beach encampment, which left many migrants facing formal identification at the Ceuta Temporary Stay Centre and choosing repatriation instead. The minister underlined that returns are being carried out “case-by-case and in full respect of international protection rules”, countering NGO complaints that asylum information is insufficient. Of the people still in Ceuta, 7,377 reception places have now been enabled, while 2,827 unaccompanied minors remain under the care of the regional child-protection system. For companies moving staff across the Strait of Gibraltar, the figures suggest that the border situation is stabilising, reducing the likelihood of ad-hoc closures that paralysed cross-border traffic in August. However, business travellers should still anticipate sporadic identity checks as police continue to search for migrants hiding in nearby hills and urban areas. The ministry has also begun paying €45 million in emergency subsidies to local SMEs that lost income during the crisis. Employers bringing non-EU talent to the enclave should monitor accommodation capacity: hospital beds are currently less than 50 % occupied, but the new Mendizábal site may be opened if arrivals resume. Spain’s next challenge is maintaining cooperation with Morocco during the 13–14 October royal visit, when Rabat traditionally tightens control on its side of the border. Any new influx could trigger renewed political pressure for accelerated returns, a sensitive topic ahead of the 29 November general election.
Source: RTVE Noticias
