Around 350 Spanish National Police officers arrived in the North African exclave of Ceuta before dawn on Sunday to begin dismantling a sprawling tent encampment on Trampolín beach, months after more than 70,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco in July.
Most of those who crossed in July were returned immediately, but roughly 10,000 remained in Ceuta, including about 3,000 mostly North African military-age men living in the beach camp.
Police deployed around fifty National Police vans, three riot police vehicles, and ten armoured military vehicles to cordon off the beach and set up checkpoints across the city, according to El País. Three Civil Guard boats patrolled offshore to stop migrants from swimming away during the operation.
A brief attempt at resistance broke out, with some in the camp chanting “no to Morocco!” Riot police moved quickly to the group and ended the chanting.
Hundreds of migrants were loaded onto buses — two from the National Police and one from the Ceuta municipal government — and taken to the El Tarajal border crossing. There, they were given a choice: return to Morocco “voluntarily,” or register with the Temporary Foreigners’ Assistance Center (CATE) to be rehoused in government facilities.
Most reportedly chose the voluntary return option rather than hand over their information to Spanish authorities. Registering would have triggered deportation proceedings anyway, while also placing their details on file with Madrid — a step that could hurt any future asylum claim.
Migrants who said they were minors were instead taken to government accommodation. Those confirmed to be under 18 are likely to be granted refugee status and allowed to stay in Spanish territory.
A Government Deadline, and a Harder Job Than Last Time
Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez, the Minister for Territorial Policy, said during a visit to Ceuta on Wednesday that the government intends to clear the beach of migrants entirely by October 15.
Spanish authorities previously cleared a smaller camp of around 250 migrants from nearby Benítez beach within two days last month. The Trampolín operation is expected to be far more difficult, given the much larger number of people involved and the health precautions required to contain disease.
On Friday, officials announced that the waters around the beach were contaminated with E. coli. The Ministry of Health said water samples taken during the last week of September showed
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