Irregular migration to Melilla rises sharply in 2026

08:30

By: Azzat Manal

Irregular migration to Melilla rises sharply in 2026

The number of irregular migrant arrivals recorded in Melilla has increased sharply in 2026, according to the latest figures from Spain’s Ministry of the Interior. A total of 647 irregular entries were recorded between January 1 and September 15, compared with 252 during the same period in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 156.7%.

The figures place Melilla among the Spanish areas that have experienced significant increases in irregular arrivals this year. The latest data show that the enclave accounted for around 3% of the 21,906 irregular entries recorded across Spain by September 15.

Most of the arrivals recorded in Melilla occurred through land routes along the border with Morocco. According to data compiled from the Spanish Interior Ministry, 624 people entered through land routes, while 57 arrivals were recorded during the first half of September alone.

The increase in Melilla contrasts with developments on some of Spain’s other migration routes. By September 15, Spain had recorded 21,906 irregular arrivals overall, with maritime routes accounting for 17,206 and land entries into Ceuta and Melilla accounting for 4,700.

The Canary Islands, which have been one of the main entry points for migrants reaching Spain from West Africa, recorded a substantial decline compared with the previous year. The Interior Ministry data compiled by Observatorio Frontera Sur show that arrivals to the islands were down by more than half at the same point in 2026.

Melilla’s location on Spain’s land border with Morocco makes it a distinctive part of the country’s migration system. The city is separated from the surrounding Moroccan territory by a fortified perimeter, while border controls and surveillance are managed by Spanish security authorities in cooperation with Moroccan counterparts.

Spanish authorities have continued to reinforce border management and migration controls in the two autonomous cities. The Interior Ministry has also maintained operational measures involving the Guardia Civil and other security services to monitor land and maritime approaches to Melilla. In June, for example, Spanish authorities reported intercepting a boat attempting to bring six migrants irregularly into Melilla from the Moroccan coast.

The broader migration picture remains more complex than the figures from Melilla alone suggest. Spain recorded fewer irregular arrivals nationally by mid-September than during the corresponding period of 2025, while migration pressure shifted between different routes. The latest figures show that the distribution of arrivals can change significantly from one region to another over the course of a year.

Migration management has also become a major policy issue for Spain and the European Union as authorities work to balance border control with asylum procedures and the protection of migrants’ rights. Spain’s Interior Ministry said in August that proposed reforms to its international protection and immigration laws were intended to bring national rules into line with the European Migration and Asylum Pact.

For Melilla, the 2026 figures highlight the continuing importance of the land border with Morocco within Spain’s wider migration framework. Although the total number of arrivals remains relatively small compared with Spain’s overall figures, the sharp increase from the previous year has placed renewed attention on border management, cooperation between the two countries and the changing routes used for irregular migration.