Spain builds maritime barrier against migrants near Ceuta after mass influx

Spanish authorities have begun installing a roughly half-kilometre-long barrier in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, rising 30–70 cm above the waterline and extending a further metre below the surface. Installation of the barrier began around 8 a.m. and comes in response to a mass border crossing by migrants from Morocco.

According to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the barrier is designed to prevent migrants from easily swimming across the border. Sánchez noted that its installation was made necessary by a recent ruling of Spain's Supreme Court: under the law, authorities may carry out an immediate return of migrants to Morocco only if they are detained at the border after crossing an actual border fence.

The night from Friday to Saturday passed quietly in Ceuta — Spanish authorities stepped up police and military presence in the city, while migrants continued returning to Morocco.

On Thursday, an estimated up to 60,000 people crossed spontaneously from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. However, according to authorities, the vast majority had already returned to Morocco by Friday.

“We're leaving because we have nothing to eat. They wouldn't even sell us milk for our daughter,” complained one Moroccan migrant who, unlike the tens of thousands of young men, had brought his wife and daughter with him into the Spanish city.

Spain's Interior Ministry said that not a single migrant who arrived in Ceuta since Thursday had managed to reach mainland Europe. The ministry also confirmed that, according to the latest figures, 67 people drowned while attempting to swim to the Spanish enclave.

“They've turned Ceuta upside down. Everything is closed, boarded up. Barefoot young men wander the streets, and there's rubbish everywhere. There won't even be a market on Saturday,” one local resident lamented.

The influx of migrants into Ceuta has triggered a strong political reaction. While the European Union, represented by the head of the European Commission, merely “expressed concern,” a number of politicians — including Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš — called for Spain to be shut out of the Schengen Zone.

Germany announced that, in light of the situation in Ceuta, it would once again extend its border controls, currently set to remain in place until 15 September. Italy has temporarily introduced border checks for non-European citizens arriving from Spain. Finland's Interior Minister Mari Rantanen also backed the proposal to reinstate border controls.

US President Donald Trump called the migration crisis in Ceuta horrifying and said that if a Democrat replaces him in the White House in three years, a similar situation will unfold in the United States as well.

Source: novinky.cz