Rabat – More than 2,500 migrants have returned to Morocco from Ceuta over the past week as Spanish authorities step up efforts to clear informal camps across the enclave.
The latest returns followed police operations at Benítez Beach and El Trampolín, two areas that had attracted large numbers of migrants. Authorities moved people from the camps by bus to the El Tarajal border crossing, where they could either register with the authorities, seek accommodation, or return voluntarily to Morocco.
The Spanish government says 11,000 migrants have returned to Morocco since August 10.
Spanish daily El País reported Thursday that the pace of returns has increased since August 24, with around 8,000 people returning to Morocco during that period.
The figures cover voluntary returns through the border crossing and transfers linked to the evacuation of informal camps.
Spanish authorities say the situation in Ceuta has improved in recent weeks, particularly after the clearance of the El Trampolín camp. The enclave now has around 7,400 places for adults across 10 accommodation centers, of which about 6,000 are occupied.
Ceuta also hosts 2,566 minors, according to the latest figures cited by the authorities.
Despite the reduction in the number of people in informal settlements, the situation remains difficult in some parts of the enclave. Some migrants continue to sleep outdoors or stay out of sight of authorities, while police keep watch over gatherings and overcrowded housing.
The clearance operations have also changed the appearance of areas that previously held large migrant camps. Yet some families, including children, remain in tents near the Temporary Reception Center and in the El Tarajal industrial area.
Police and military units continue to patrol Benítez Beach and El Trampolín to prevent new camps from emerging. Authorities also plan to clear the remaining camp at El Guano.
Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas has cautioned that the situation remains far from resolved. He said the city still lacks the resources needed to restore what he described as normal conditions and warned that tensions could resurface.
Madrid has taken a more positive view of the latest developments, describing the past week as a possible turning point in its response to the situation.
Since authorities introduced a unified command structure on August 24, officials have assessed 3,800 cases. The return of more than 2,500 migrants to Morocco over the past week has further reduced the pressure on several areas of the enclave.
