The Spanish Policía Nacional cleared makeshift camps at Playa de Benítez in Ceuta on 29 September 2026. According to consistent reports from the authorities and media, those present were taken by bus to the border crossing at Tarajal During the operation, dozens of people chose to return voluntarily to Morocco. Local media also report that several hundred people were relocated as part of the clearance; by the time of publication, the government had not provided a complete breakdown of the exact number of individual cases on the day of the operation.
The central government in Madrid and the Ministerio del Interior justify the operation on the grounds of restoring public order and relieving pressure on coastal areas. According to the government, the process is being coordinated with the Moroccan authorities. Its legal basis is the Real Decreto 681/2026, published on 25 August 2026, which classifies the situation in the North African exclave as a security concern and provides for coordinating action by the central administration. La Moncloa and the Ministry of the Interior had repeatedly pointed out since the end of August that identification procedures were a prerequisite for any decision on residence or return.
The authorities stress that a return to Morocco is possible only if the people concerned expressly wish it and their identity has been established. They say the current border crossings are voluntary departures, without coercion. Nevertheless, several aid organisations in Ceuta are urging caution. They are calling for transparent procedures, individual assessments and access to legal advice, particularly for minors and other vulnerable groups. According to their reports, those affected received only limited information during the clearance about their options and the consequences of returning.
The Ceuta city authorities are also aiming to make the affected stretches of beach usable again as soon as possible. At the same time, the underlying situation remains strained: a significant proportion of those who arrived in Ceuta in summer 2026 still lack secure legal status. The coming weeks are likely to be shaped by administrative decisions, court proceedings and further bilateral talks between Madrid and Rabat. The government and security authorities say they will prioritise additional accommodation capacity and orderly identification and allocation procedures, to prevent spontaneous encampments and assess individual protection needs.
The public debate thus centres on three issues: the extent to which return decisions are genuinely voluntary, the reliability of coordination with Moroccan authorities, and the Spanish administration’s ability to uphold minimum rule-of-law standards under heavy pressure.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).