"We Feel Abandoned": Ceuta Erupts in Protest Over Migrant Crisis

Thousands of residents of Ceuta marched on Wednesday to defend the Spanish character of the North African enclave, expressing anger at the central government over a recent surge in irregular migration. Protesters chanted against Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, accusing his administration of neglect and "betrayal" as the city grapples with the arrival of thousands of migrants. The demonstration took place against a backdrop of visible tension. Witnesses reported military personnel patrolling the main commercial street and instructing individuals perceived as irregular migrants to leave the area. One officer was overheard telling a Moroccan migrant he would personally take him to the border, a move that would be illegal without a formal administrative process. The city, where nearly half the population is Muslim, is deeply divided over the crisis. While many share a feeling of institutional abandonment, they split on the solution. Some advocate for a humanitarian approach, requesting more resources for shelter and transfers to the Spanish mainland. Others view the newcomers as "invaders" and demand their expulsion. The latter voice dominated the march, with crowds chanting "Expulsion, invaders." Organizers read a manifesto defending the city's "Spanish sovereignty" and called for a "joint" response from the state and a "firm commitment" from the EU. Notably, the city’s two most active migrant-support associations did not participate, calling the protest "politicized." The anger is fueled by a sense of siege. Many residents interpret the mass entry of around 70,000 people as a deliberate attack by Morocco on Spanish sovereignty, suggesting the neighboring country failed to control the border for political reasons. "Ceuta is too small to absorb so many people," said Marian, a protester. "We feel abandoned. We don't exist." However, some of the migrants themselves sought to distance themselves from the political conflict. "I don't know why we got through so easily," said Hamza, a Moroccan migrant living in a makeshift camp. "They say Morocco wants Ceuta, but if they came to conquer it, I would volunteer to defend Spain. I don't want to invade; I want to live here like everyone else."