Agadir – Ceuta’s authorities have begun a sorting and identification process for migrants who entered the Spanish enclave during last week’s surge in arrivals, as officials examine individual asylum applications and determine whether they qualify for international protection.
Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, the Spanish government’s delegate in Ceuta, said the National Police have started verifying the identity of each migrant, collecting personal information, and determining whether they intend to seek asylum, according to statements reported by Europa Press.
The official said around 2,500 migrants remain in the city, noting that the high number of people awaiting assistance requires the process to be carried out in phases.
Following a visit on Tuesday evening to the Príncipe Alfonso district, where several hundred migrants are allegedly still gathered, Pérez Triano stressed that each case would be handled individually and in accordance with legal guarantees.
He added that Moroccan nationals whose asylum applications are rejected will be returned to Morocco through established repatriation procedures.
The government delegate also announced plans to open a Temporary Reception Center for Foreigners (CATE) within approximately one month. The facility, which will be housed in a warehouse already identified by the authorities, will serve as a processing center where migrants can be identified and screened before spending up to 72 hours while initial administrative procedures are completed.
Pérez Triano said preparations for the center began before last Thursday’s wave of arrivals, as Ceuta was already experiencing sustained migration pressure.
The Spanish government has reportedly accelerated the transfer of migrants who were already staying at Ceuta’s Temporary Immigrant Detention Center (CETI) before the latest migration surge. The transfers primarily involve sub-Saharan African nationals who meet the requirements to continue their stay elsewhere in Spain.
