Casablanca – Spanish and Moroccan authorities have begun managing the return of Moroccan migrants from Ceuta after this week’s mass irregular crossings, with both voluntary returns and official repatriation procedures now underway.
According to converging reports and videos shared on social media, large groups of migrants began leaving the Spanish enclave voluntarily between Thursday night and Friday morning, heading back to northern Morocco. The returns are taking place alongside official repatriation procedures coordinated by the two countries.
The reports describe a situation in which some migrants are choosing to return on their own while others are being sent back through formal procedures. Security coordination between Rabat and Madrid began shortly after the surge in crossings, allowing the return process to start quickly.
Videos circulating on social media also appear to show Spanish police escorting young Moroccan migrants toward the Tarajal border crossing.
Several returnees have shared videos online describing difficult conditions during their stay in the enclave. In testimonies circulating on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, some said they spent up to two days without food or water and slept outdoors before deciding to return.
Others said they had expected to continue to mainland Spain but instead found themselves stranded in Ceuta.
The developments come as the scale of the crossings continues to grow. Ceuta’s regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, estimated that around 60,000 migrants entered the enclave in the past 24 hours and said at least 34 people were believed to have died during the crossing, calling it an unprecedented situation for the city.
