Spain sends army after thousands swim to Ceuta

Thousands of people swam from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Monday, prompting Madrid to deploy the army. The mass arrival puts new pressure on Spain’s embattled Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. The migrants, mostly Moroccans, crossed the border by swimming around breakwaters or using small inflatable boats. Spanish authorities reported that about 8,000 people entered the territory in a single day, overwhelming local police. Ceuta is a small Spanish city on the north coast of Africa. It shares a land border with Morocco. Because it is part of the European Union, migrants who reach it can apply for asylum. The Spanish government sent military reinforcements to help control the situation. Officials said they would return those who entered illegally to Morocco, in coordination with Moroccan authorities. The crisis adds to political difficulties for Sánchez, who already faces criticism over his handling of migration and the economy.