Rabat – Spanish border workers warned the central government about rising migrant arrivals and the risk of a larger crisis weeks before more than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta in late July, according to a Reuters investigation published Saturday.
Trade unions representing Spain’s Civil Guard and police said they repeatedly asked authorities for clearer instructions and additional resources after a Spanish court ruling on June 29 changed how migrants arriving in Ceuta could be returned.
The ruling said migrants could be immediately pushed back only if they had crossed a physical barrier. It did not allow immediate returns for people who reached the enclave by swimming.
Border unions warned that the decision could encourage more people to attempt the crossing. The Civil Guard union AUGC said in a July 10 statement that the ruling had created a “legal loophole” that required clear protocols for officers working at the border.
Three days later, the police union SUP called for more officers and warned that criminal networks could adapt their routes and methods to take advantage of changes to return procedures.
In a letter dated July 23, SUP also reported “constant arrivals by sea” and called for a temporary reception center to deal with the pressure on police facilities.
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Union representatives told Reuters that the Interior Ministry did not respond to their requests, while a meeting with the government’s representative in Ceuta was offered weeks later.
The Spanish government has rejected suggestions that it failed to prepare for the crisis. An Interior Ministry spokesperson told Reuters that authorities studied several options after the court ruling and installed a floating barrier in the sea on August 1, just 48 hours after deciding to deploy it.
