Ceuta returns to a semblance of order following a chaotic week that saw roughly 60,000 migrants enter the Spanish enclave. As of this weekend, the vast majority have returned to Morocco, though some remain in the surrounding hills. Spanish civil guard ships continue their search for victims in the waters near the beach that served as a primary entry point during the surge.
Local life is resuming with shops and cafes open for business in the city of 84,000. Despite the return of routine, residents are divided regarding the root causes of the migration surge. At least 72 individuals lost their lives, either through drowning or in a stampede at the border, sparking fresh friction in European policy debates.
The political atmosphere remains charged. Far-right politicians and influencers visited the area to push for stricter controls, leading to counterprotests from local groups. Tensions rose when Alvise Pérez, a member of the European Parliament, required police intervention to leave a bar after being confronted by residents. Tensions persist among local populations regarding the identity and loyalty of the region's diverse inhabitants.
The Spanish government faces criticism from opposition figures such as Santiago Abascal of the Vox party, who characterized the surge as an invasion and questioned the stability of the current administration. As the city attempts to recover, the event highlights deep-seated regional anxieties regarding border security and demographics.