In the Spanish exclave of Ceuta around 1,700 people were moved on 18 September from the beaches of Benítez and El Trampolín to a temporary campamento del puerto . According to the central government and the security forces deployed, the move was intended to ensure orderly assistance, medical checks and registration. The authorities described it as a coordinated operation lasting one day, which proceeded “without significant incidents”, although tensions arose at times.
The background is a rise in border crossings from Morocco that has continued since late July 2026 and is placing considerable pressure on Ceuta. At the end of August, the government classified the situation as “of interest to national security” and, with the Real Decreto-ley 22/2026 created additional legal and funding leeway. The reference from the La Moncloa to the Consejo de Ministros dated 15 September records preparatory measures for setting up the port camp.
On the day of the operation, the Guardia Civil and the Policía Nacional cordoned off sections of the coastal area and directed groups in a controlled manner to the new reception area. According to consistent local reports, some groups tried to gain access outside the designated queue; officers used loudspeaker instructions, and blank shots were fired into the air on a few occasions. No serious injuries were reported. Despite the transfers, numerous people remained on the beaches and the overall situation remained tense.
Politically, Madrid defended its actions by referring to the procedures in force and the expansion of capacity. The Minister for Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, thanked the security forces and stressed that there had been no serious incidents. Opposition representatives in Ceuta criticised the management as poorly coordinated and called for additional permanent reception capacity on the mainland.
Under the law, returns following border crossings remain limited to cases permitted by law; minors and particularly vulnerable people are subject to special protection and assessment procedures. According to the authorities, registrations at the port camp are to be expedited and cases allocated in accordance with the law, including possible transfers within Spain. Complete, consolidated figures for the camp’s ongoing occupancy and further transfers were not available by the evening.
The measure marks an attempt to ease acute humanitarian pressures and bring administrative procedures into order. Whether it will sustainably relieve the situation in Ceuta depends on developments at the border with Morocco, the capacity of the campamento del puerto and further decisions by the central and local administrations.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).