Ceuta installs 500-meter sea barrier amid migration pressure

Saturday 01 August 2026 - 19:00

By: Sahili Aya

Ceuta installs 500-meter sea barrier amid migration pressure

Spanish authorities have begun installing a new maritime security system in Ceuta aimed at strengthening border control following a major migration crisis that recently affected the enclave.

The Spanish government announced that work started early Saturday at the Tarajal breakwater, where a 500-meter-long inflatable barrier is being deployed at sea. According to authorities, the structure rises between 30 and 70 centimeters above the water surface and extends approximately one meter below it.

The floating barrier is part of a broader containment system that also includes an initial line of anchored buoys installed with the support of the Spanish Navy. A designated corridor between the two lines will allow Civil Guard vessels to maintain continuous monitoring and protection of the maritime device.

Spanish authorities said the situation in Ceuta had stabilized overnight, reporting that the night passed without major incidents and that attempts at irregular entry had completely stopped. They also indicated that returns of migrants to Morocco continued without significant problems.

The measure comes after a large-scale migration episode that saw tens of thousands of people attempt to reach the Spanish enclave from Morocco by land and sea. Spanish Interior Ministry figures indicate that more than 48,000 people who entered Ceuta irregularly had been returned to Morocco by Friday evening.

During the night from Friday to Saturday, hundreds of migrants, mainly young Moroccans, were transported back toward Fnideq, the Moroccan city located near Ceuta. The returns involved people who had reached the enclave through both maritime and land routes.

The recent surge represented one of the most significant migration challenges faced by Ceuta in recent years. Local authorities reported dozens of deaths during the crisis, mostly caused by drowning attempts at sea.

The new maritime barrier forms part of Spain’s broader effort to reinforce border management while coordinating with Moroccan authorities to handle migration flows and prevent further dangerous crossing attempts.