More than 2,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after crossing into Spain, according to reports from humanitarian organizations and public institutions, far exceeding the numbers cited by Spain’s Ministry of the Interior. On Thursday, the Red Cross delivered over 2,500 meals and water supplies, 500 more than previous days, but still fell short of meeting the demand. Workers described chaotic lines of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, gathered along the beach at Trampolín, a stretch of coastline near the border with Morocco. The situation has sparked tensions between local authorities and national officials, who have been reluctant to revise their earlier estimates. The discrepancy arises because the Interior Ministry claimed that of the 72,000 people who entered Ceuta, approximately 70,000 had already returned to Morocco, leaving roughly 2,000 in the city. However, this figure contradicts the observations made by both police officers and aid workers on the ground, who consistently report higher numbers. According to sources within the ministry, these figures are based on data they consider reliable, though they acknowledge the numbers are approximate. They have not received alternative information that would allow them to adjust their estimate. Military sources suggest that the reinforcement of the border might have reduced the number of people attempting to cross by swimming, a scenario that had been previously warned about. Despite these efforts, the influx continued unabated. The Ministry of the Interior, led by Fernando Grande-Marlaska, insists that no specific warnings were given regarding the scale of migration. He claims that while intelligence services did issue alerts about potential increases due to recent court rulings on hot returns, there was no indication of the magnitude of the current crisis. Internal government communications reveal that several documents had highlighted concerns about the vulnerability of the Tarajal border post, which is easily crossed by swimmers. These reports emphasized the need for increased security measures but did not provide exact figures or predict the timing of such an event. One analogy used by sources compared the situation to having an open garage door and being alerted about a possible thief, yet failing to close the door. Grande-Marlaska has faced criticism from within his own cabinet, particularly from Defense Minister Margarita Robles, over how the crisis was handled. Sources indicate that while the Interior Ministry received praise from European Union counterparts for addressing the situation, internal discussions highlight the challenges of predicting migrant movements. A key factor mentioned is the lack of personnel during the summer months, which contributed to the current imbalance. Ceuta currently hosts more than 1,200 agents from the National Police and the Guardia Civil, yet this number appears insufficient given the vulnerabilities exposed by the recent events. Additional reinforcements have been deployed, including extra units from the Reserve and Security Group (ARS) and specialized divers from the Special Underwater Activities Group. However, these additions amount to fewer than 100 officers focused on securing the area, with not all assigned directly to the border. The central issue, according to sources, lies in the physical barrier itself, the lack of adequate infrastructure to prevent unauthorized crossings. This absence has allowed large numbers of migrants to enter despite heightened security measures. As the situation continues to unfold, the focus remains on assessing the effectiveness of current strategies and determining whether further actions will be necessary to manage the ongoing crisis.
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