Spain's conservative Popular Party (PP) has estimated that around 12,000 migrants are still present in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, following a mass border crossing in May 2021. The figure was cited by the party's secretary general, Teodoro García Egea, during a press conference on August 12, 2026, according to reports from Spanish media.
The PP's claim comes amid ongoing tensions between Spain and Morocco over migration policy. In May 2021, thousands of migrants and refugees entered Ceuta after Moroccan border guards appeared to loosen controls, leading to a diplomatic crisis. Spanish authorities at the time reported that most of the approximately 10,000 people who entered were returned to Morocco within days, but the PP now asserts that a significant number remain in the enclave.
García Egea urged the Spanish government to provide accurate figures and to seek European Union assistance in managing the situation. He criticized the Socialist-led government for what he called a lack of transparency regarding the current migrant population in Ceuta.
The Spanish government has not yet officially responded to the PP's estimate. The Interior Ministry has previously stated that it does not comment on opposition figures. The situation in Ceuta remains a sensitive issue in Spanish-Moroccan relations, with both countries seeking to cooperate on border security while addressing humanitarian concerns.
