Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s Mediterranean enclaves on the Moroccan coast, are the EU’s only land borders with Africa and frequently experience surges in migrant attempts to enter Europe.
In the past 24 hours, many migrants who swam to Ceuta were intercepted on or near the beach of Tarajal, on the southern edge of the enclave next to Morocco, according to a Guardia Civil spokesperson in Ceuta.
“There was pressure and we handled it with Morocco,” he declared, without specifying the number of attempted crossings or returns.
The representative noted that the mist had cleared by Monday morning.
The spokesman added that those crossing the border are usually detained and returned to Morocco unless they are minors or asylum seekers.
A stampede two years ago resulted in the deaths of at least 23 people when about 2,000 migrants attempted to breach the border fence into Melilla.