Spain relocates 1,800 migrants from Ceuta beach camps to temporary shelters

Emergency shelter transfers in Ceuta

Early on 20 August 2026, Spanish national police and military personnel began clearing makeshift encampments on El Trampolín beach and in the Loma Colmenar area of Ceuta. Security forces dismantled shelters built from cloth, plastic sheeting, and palm leaves, coordinating the voluntary transfer of migrants to state-run facilities. The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration established 1,800 accommodation spaces across two primary locations, Loma Margarita and Loma Colmenar. Approximately 1,200 migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were relocated to a military facility in Loma Margarita, while North African nationals were moved to Loma Colmenar near the El Tarajal border crossing. By late morning, roughly 1,500 people had been registered and moved. Minister Elma Saiz announced that total shelter capacity could expand to 4,000 places as further sites are prepared.

Conditions at makeshift beach camps

The operation followed three weeks of migrants sleeping outdoors under severe weather exposure after crossing the Moroccan border on 30 and 31 July. On 17 August, migrants demonstrated along the shoreline with Spanish flags and placards reading that they did not want to return to Morocco. A migrant from Tetouan described the conditions prior to the clearance.

We are sleeping by the sea, with cold and bad smells. We are suffering a lot.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reiterated that irregular entrants will not receive permits to reside in Ceuta, travel to the Spanish mainland, or secure legal residency, except in rare instances involving extreme vulnerability. Humanitarian organisations, including Engloba and Accem, assisted authorities on the ground with translation and basic supplies.

Disputed counts and border casualties

Between 70,000 and 80,000 people crossed into Ceuta during the mass entry event on 30 and 31 July, during which at least 82 people died attempting to swim around border barriers. Spanish authorities reported that approximately 70,000 individuals returned to Morocco within 48 hours. However, thousands remained scattered across the city of 80,000 residents. The central government in Madrid estimates that at least 5,000 migrants remain in the exclave, while Ceuta regional authorities estimate the figure at 9,000, and media calculations range from 3,500 to 8,000.

Protection of minors and social media impact

The presence of unaccompanied minors remains a central logistical concern for regional and national administrations. By the morning of 18 August, National Police had registered 2,168 minors. Rubén Pérez Correa, Secretary of State for Youth and Children, confirmed that authorities do not yet have an exact final count of minors in the city. The Spanish government is currently preparing to transfer 500 unaccompanied minors to facilities across mainland Spain. Spanish law and European regulations prohibit the deportation of minors without verified reception conditions. Fact-checking group Maldita.es reported that false online posts promising immediate asylum in Spain had spurred the crossings. Following cooperation between the European Commission, social platforms, and fact-checkers, more than 100 Instagram accounts promoting migrant trafficking content were taken down.