Ceuta President Demands State Plan Following Mass Migration Crisis

Juan Vivas, the president of Ceuta, has called upon the Spanish government to implement a specific plan to restore normality following a mass entry of migrants on July 30. During a meeting with Minister Angel Victor Torres, Vivas requested the creation of a single government command to coordinate and supervise actions in the city. His priorities include the expulsion of individuals who participated in the mass entry and the urgent establishment of a temporary detention center for immigrants to ensure basic needs are met while expulsion files are processed. Vivas also sought increased security forces, the continued presence of the military, and reinforced health services to handle the population increase.

The crisis has sparked significant political tension. Center right sources highlight Vivas's concerns regarding territorial integrity and the need for an unequivocal message on border security. Meanwhile, center left sources report that the People's Party (PP) has criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for being confrontational with Italy while remaining passive toward Morocco. This criticism follows Spain's imposition of random border controls on Italian citizens, a move that mirrored previous actions by Italy.

A critical point of contention involves the management of unaccompanied minors. Vivas reported that the city is currently attending to approximately 1,300 minors, though some reports suggest there could be up to 5,000 wandering the exclave. While Vivas has advocated for family reunification and a specific strategy for these arrivals, center right reporting indicates a political deadlock over redistributing these minors to other Spanish regions, noting that some local right wing governments oppose the move. Additionally, reports indicate the presence of thousands of sub Saharan migrants remaining in the city, many of whom are living in makeshift camps while awaiting asylum processing.