Tens of thousands protest Spain's handling of Ceuta migrant crisis

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities across Spain on Saturday to denounce the government’s response to the escalating migrant influx at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Organisers, including several left‑wing parties and human‑rights NGOs, estimated that more than 30,000 participants gathered in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and other urban centres, while police figures placed the total number of protesters at roughly 22,000. The rallies coincided with a surge in arrivals at Ceuta’s border fence, where authorities reported that over 2,000 migrants attempted to cross in the past 48 hours, prompting the deployment of additional security forces and the activation of emergency protocols.

Government officials defended the measures as necessary to preserve public order and to manage the “irregular migration pressure” that has strained Spain’s northern African outposts since the start of the year. Interior Minister Juan Martínez cited recent agreements with Morocco aimed at curbing smuggling networks, while the Ministry of the Interior announced plans to increase resources for asylum processing and to enhance cooperation with European Union partners. The protests highlighted growing public discontent with the perceived lack of humanitarian provisions, and authorities have indicated that they will review the current strategy in light of the demonstrators’ demands.