On Monday, August 26, the government of Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city in Morocco, requested additional security personnel and vehicles at the border after dozens of migrants swam into the enclave, using the foggy weekend to evade border controls.
Hundreds of migrants, including 17 minors, are estimated to have attempted to swim to the beach of Tarajal in Spanish territory between Sunday and Monday, August 25-26, according to police sources quoted by Spain's EFE news agency.
Over 500 adults were taken back to Morocco after being assisted by Red Cross volunteers, according to the sources.
Meanwhile, the 17 minors identified by police were placed under the care of social services who transferred them to a center where some 480 foreign children and teens are being hosted -- four times over capacity limits.
Also read: Officials to stand trial for allegedly expelling migrant minors from Ceuta
Local authorities denounce critical situation
On August 23, the president of the autonomous city, Juan Vivas, told reporters, together with Father Angel, president of the NGO Mensajeros de la Paz, that the situation was critical due to an increase in migrant flows with the enclave recording over 650 arrivals of migrant minors. Many are reported to swim into Ceuta.
On August 26, Vivas again insisted in statements to the media on the need for a coordinated response involving the Spanish government and European institutions, not only for security checks but also to promote an international strategy of cooperation to assist populations at risk of exclusion.
'An average of 700 irregular crossing attempts'
Since August 22, Ceuta has registered "an average of 700 daily attempts" to illegally swim into the enclave in Morocco, with a peak of 1,500 people reported on August 26, local prefect Cristina Perez told reporters in statements broadcast by TVE.
Perez noted that only at dawn on Monday, August 26, over 100 migrants were intercepted by border police in the area of Tarajal, while over the previous 24 hours, some 500 foreigners were sent back to Moroccan territory after swimming to the beach of Tarajal.
On average, over 150 people are expelled every day, said the prefect, highlighting the "extreme pressure" Ceuta is experiencing due to the migration crisis.
Perez recognized the "humanitarian work that security forces are carrying out" in assisting people swimming into the enclave from the southern border. She assured that the government is "implementing all necessary means" to prevent the situation from getting worse.
Also read: Ceuta: Dozens of migrants swim to Spanish enclave