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Denver- Footage released by Spanish media groups appears to show migrants celebrating in the streets following the latest successful crossing of the border into the Spanish enclave.
According to reports from Spanish authorities, over 300 migrants were part of a group that attempted to scale the border fence into the Spanish territory situated on the African continent. Of the 300, 238 were successful in their attempts, utilizing handmade hooks to assist their crossing. This crossing comes just a week after two separate groups of over a hundred migrants made the same crossing in the span of 48 hours.
Spain has seen an influx of migrants at their borders, as more Africans hope to gain residence in the EU. The latest attempts reportedly left three spanish law enforcement officers “slightly injured,” as they attempted to detain the migrants. Those that made it over the border fence successfully, were transferred to relevant authorities to be quarantined as a health precaution.
The Spanish colonial remnants of Ceuta and Melilla constitute the European Union’s only land border on the African continent. This has made both cities a haven for irregular migrants desperate to enter Europe without having to make life-threatening sea journeys which have already claimed more than 1,146 lives in the first six months of 2021 .
Spain, which accused Morocco earlier this year of willingly allowing migrants to enter the territory of Ceuta, is currently stretched thin as its officials struggle to monitor the border areas of both territories.
In addition to Spanish border officials, Madrid was forced to deploy thousands of military troops into its African enclaves to help bolster border security. The authorities are additionally operating with minimal assistance from Morocco, as relations between Madrid and Rabat remain stagnated. Spanish authorities reported a cessation of communication from Morocco’s security officials pending a resumption in positive political ties.
Spain and the rest of the EU rely heavily on Morocco to assist in its migration containment efforts within the region. The EU’s immigration targets and increasingly xenophobic politcal scene has made its borders the most deadly place on earth for migrants worldwide.
The geographic proximity between Moroccan and Spain affords migrants the safest opportunity to enter the EU, and in addition to the Spanish enclaves, the narrow strait separating the two countries is also frequently the site of mass migration attempts.
