Fernando Grande-Marlaska requests European assistance to manage the ongoing migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta
Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has requested support from the European Commission to assist in screening the thousands of migrants who remain in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Following a mass influx of at least 72,000 migrants from Morocco in late July, the administration announced a series of extraordinary measures to reinforce the border, including drone surveillance and maritime containment buoys. While most migrants returned to Morocco quickly, approximately 5,000 remain in Ceuta, causing significant strain on the city's 80,000 residents. The administration announced that it will overhaul immigration laws to ensure a more orderly and efficient processing system, including a two-speed system for asylum requests. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska urged residents to remain calm as tensions rise, noting that some rioters have clashed with police during protests. The administration announced that the city's management has been centralized to ensure a swift resolution to the crisis, which has been brewing for years due to Moroccan pressure.