Juan Jesús Vivas calls for national emergency as thousands of migrants breach the Spanish border at Ceuta
Juan Jesús Vivas, the head of the Ceuta regional government, has declared an "absolute humanitarian and social emergency" after thousands of migrants breached the border from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people entered the territory in the last 10 days, with hundreds more arriving on Thursday alone. Vivas requested that the national government in Madrid declare a national emergency and deploy the army to reassert control over the border and ensure citizen safety. Spain's Interior Ministry rejected the call for a national emergency, noting that migration flows do not technically qualify as a national security risk under current legislation. However, the ministry promised to provide additional resources and is working closely with the Moroccan government to manage the surge. The situation mirrors a border crisis in May 2021, where thousands of migrants entered the enclave in a short period. Authorities are currently coordinating with Morocco to facilitate the return of illegal immigrants who entered the territory.