Spain's interior minister denies intelligence warning before 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta

The crossing

On 30-31 July, an estimated 72,000 people crossed the border into Ceuta from Morocco, according to official figures provided by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. The mass entry overwhelmed Spanish security forces, and more than a hundred deaths were reported. The scale dwarfs the 2021 crisis, when 10,000 people entered the same city after Morocco relaxed controls in a diplomatic row over Spain's hosting of Polisario Front leader Brahim Gali.

Marlaska's denial

At a press conference on 4 August, following an extraordinary videoconference of EU interior ministers, Marlaska categorically denied that the CNI or any other intelligence service had issued a warning. He added that if any such alert had existed, it would have reached the highest levels of government. The only intelligence received, he explained, pointed to a circumstantial increase in irregular arrivals typical of summer, possibly fuelled by a Supreme Court ruling on 29 June that banned summary returns for those arriving by swimming.

There was no report, warning or communication about anything like what happened.

He stressed that the government had reinforced Guardia Civil staffing days before, but the numbers proved insufficient. Marlaska also praised the CNI's work, saying he had no intention of censuring it and that the agency plays an essential role in security.

EU coordination and returns

The minister spoke after a meeting requested by Spain and 22 other EU member states, chaired by Ireland. He said Morocco views Spain as a reliable partner, which facilitated the return of 70,000 people already. Marlaska emphasised that Spain does not act "in terms of testosterone" but focuses on effectiveness and human rights.

If they don't see us as a reliable partner, perhaps they would not have accepted the return in the terms that happened.

Comparison with 2021

The 2021 crisis saw 10,000 people enter Ceuta after Morocco loosened border controls in response to Spain's hosting of Polisario Front leader Brahim Gali for medical treatment. Marlaska noted that even a repeat of that scale was not foreseen in any intelligence report. This year's influx was seven times larger.

Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court's 29 June decision prohibited "devoluciones en caliente" for those reaching Spanish territory by swimming. Marlaska acknowledged that this ruling may have encouraged the surge, but maintained that no specific warning was issued. He said the only information available was about a possible seasonal rise, which had been communicated by other government members.