Nearly 350 Youth Attempt to Enter Ceuta by Swimming

Rabat- Early Thursday morning, nearly 350 individuals attempted to swim to Ceuta, but the majority were intercepted by Moroccan and Spanish authorities before reaching the shore. 

However, 12 Algerian adults and four children successfully made it to land. Upon arrival, they were transferred to centers for unaccompanied minors, according to Iberian media reports.

During the night, the Civil Guard, the maritime service, and the Special Group for Underwater Activities (GEAS) acted near Tarajal to prevent the situation from escalating.

 Despite their efforts, the  Temporary Immigrant Stay Center is now facing extreme overcrowding, currently housing 750 residents—almost 50% over its capacity. The situation is equally critical for minors, with the city caring for about 400 unaccompanied minors, far exceeding its capacity by over 360%.

Last Tuesday, a group of young people also attempted this perilous crossing, during which two 18-year-olds from El Jadida lost their lives.

Ceuta’s President, Juan Jesús Vivas, has warned the central government that this is a “genuine human tragedy” and has called for a new contingency plan. In August alone, 163 minors arrived in the city, bringing the total to around 600 so far this year.

Last February, the Ceuta government and the Ministry of the Interior agreed on a contingency plan to address the surge in migrant minors, aiming to relocate 87 of them. However, to date, only 17 have been transferred to the mainland.