The local Spanish government in Ceuta declared a migration emergency on Friday, citing an overwhelming influx of unaccompanied Moroccan minors crossing the border. Over 30 minors have entered the enclave within two days, bringing the total for 2024 to 69. This measure allows Ceuta to seek assistance from the national Ministry of Children and Youth, as well as other Spanish municipalities. The goal is to relocate some of the 180+ unaccompanied minors currently housed in Ceuta's reception centers to mainland Spain. Government sources, quoted by Ok Diario, expressed concern about the «migratory pressure» exceeding Ceuta's capacity to care for these children and adolescents. An agreement reached in 2022 stipulates that Ceuta, ideally, should house no more than 88 unaccompanied minors, with a maximum of 132 under exceptional circumstances. On Wednesday, 11 minors arrived in Ceuta. On Thursday, 16 more swam across, followed by five others on Friday morning despite rough weather. All the migrants are Moroccan nationals between the ages of 15 and 17.
