The Consejo de Administración of the Autoridad Portuaria de Ceuta voted on Friday, 4 September 2026, by 11 to 4 against making port land available for a temporary reception facility for migrants. According to matching reports by elDiario.es and Ceuta al Día, only the four state representatives voted in favour – Abogacía del Estado, Puertos del Estado, Capitanía Marítima and the Delegación del Gobierno –. Representatives of the city, trade unions, the chamber of commerce, business associations and the president of the Port Authority, Juan Manuel Doncel.
The decision comes amid a humanitarian emergency in Ceuta, which has lasted for more than a month, after very large numbers of people arrived from Morocco in the Spanish enclave in a short period. According to the Ministry of the Interior, most have returned to Morocco; at the same time, many adults are still living outdoors, and there are reports of unaccompanied minors without adequate protection. Protests against accommodation in the port area have recently shaped local debate.
Supporters of using the land argued that the port could quickly provide capacity for weatherproof emergency accommodation and thereby alleviate immediate hardship. Opponents stressed the port’s security and operational requirements, the economic impact on port businesses, and the site’s proximity to residential areas and infrastructure. The port authority also cited the facility’s strategic importance to Ceuta and the responsibility of other bodies for initial reception.
The decision makes it harder to find short-term solutions. The Spanish government recently announced additional funding and coordination measures, and emphasised cooperation with the autonomous city of Ceuta and aid organisations. Government sources also voiced scepticism about large-scale transfers to mainland Spain; specific new sites in Ceuta or alternatives outside the port remain undecided for now. Representatives of the Delegación del Gobierno indicated that they were open to talks, but pointed to limited capacity and the need to organise accommodation, healthcare and security coherently.
The published vote count is based on matching media reports; an official meeting record from the Autoridad Portuaria de Ceuta was not available online at the time of publication. The account of the situation in Ceuta and the protests is based on reports by regional and national media and government statements from recent days.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).