Spain has condemned the “selfish, polarising and unlawful” reaction of certain European countries after an estimated 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco to Ceuta.
The death toll in the Spanish enclave has risen to 67 after chaotic scenes ensued on Thursday and Friday, with a number of people drowning or killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier.
Spain’s interior minister told a press conference that “normality is returning” and that the majority of the undocumented migrants had been returned to Morocco.
Italy has suspending the EU's border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain and strengthened controls along the Franco-Italian land border, with prime minister Giorgia Meloni describing the scenes as “shocking”.
In response, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez said certain European governments had chosen to attack Spain, "driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest".
Donald Trump has also criticised the “catastrophe”, telling a cabinet meeting: “I saw Spain yesterday, and I watched the catastrophe that took place. It looks like an invasion of a country.
“Hundreds of thousands of people. And that same thing’s going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected, except worse, much bigger, much easier to get into.”
Key Points
- Trump administration and House Speaker claim 'socialists are ruining Spain'
- Number of people killed rises to 77
- Morocco 'facilitated migrant crossings' into Ceuta
- Almost all Ceuta migrants have returned to Morocco, Spanish embassy says
- JD Vance claims crisis is result of 'radical left-wing globalist policies'
Which EU countries have signed the letter calling for a stronger response?
17:40 , Holly Evans
The leaders of 22 EU countries called for a coordinated response to the situation.
In a letter to top EU officials, released Saturday by the Danish prime minister's office, the countries asked the EU's current Irish presidency to urgently convene a videoconference of interior ministers.
"We cannot allow uncontrolled mass crossings, the instrumentalization of migration or other hybrid threats to create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible. That a migrant's illegal entry can turn into legal stay," the letter said.
"Such a perception would encourage further attempts, undermine confidence in our common migration policy and have repercussions for all Member States."
Leaders of Italy, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden signed the letter.
What to know about the Spanish enclave of Ceuta
17:10 , Holly Evans
Thousands of migrants have streamed into the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa from Morocco, prompting local officials to call for help from Spain's national government in Madrid to restore the border.
Videos and images from the frontier showed crowds of people, mainly Moroccans, walking around the breakwaters at an urban beach near a border checkpoint with Morocco onto local roads. The majority looked to be young men, though there were also families with women and children.
Here's what to know.
What to know about the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as migrant arrivals from Morocco spike
Ceuta needs our help, not our hysteria
16:40 , Holly Evans
The chaotic scenes of tens of thousands of irregular migrants pouring into the Spanish territory of Ceuta, on the tip of the north coast of Africa, are simultaneously distressing and misleading.
The distress derives not only from the sight of people risking harm by trampling border fences or swimming around using inflatables, but also from the grievous fact that at least 57 have died in the process.
Some of those who’ve made the journey, by land or sea, are unaccompanied children from bordering Morocco, including a number who did not even tell their parents what they were doing.
Read the full article here:
Ceuta needs our help, not our hysteria
Migrants said they faced hunger and hostility in Ceuta
16:14 , Holly Evans
Migrants who swam or jumped over fences to rush into Spain's African enclave of Ceuta this week were returning home on Saturday, with many saying hunger, exhaustion and hostility from locals had crushed their hopes of a new life in Europe.
Those heading back said that they had initially been drawn by viral social-media videos and messages from friends suggesting that the heavily guarded border could be breached.
But after reaching Ceuta, many said they found no way to continue onwards to mainland Spain.
"We came to make progress, not to be fooled," said Brahim, a bakery worker from Fez who left his job and crossed the border after watching clips of thousands doing the same. "I thought I'd build a better future there. But I was surprised in Ceuta."
Brahim said he survived for three days on water alone and could not afford the high food prices on the Spanish side. "How come a tuna sandwich was being sold for 100 dirhams?”
Spain insists Morocco is a 'reliable partner'
15:34 , Holly Evans
Questioned how this massive border breach could have happened given the heavy security on both sides of the border and whether Morocco posed a threat to Ceuta, Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska defended the government in Rabat.
"The events require an evaluation by Spain and Morocco," he said.
But it was the cooperation with its neighbors that allowed Spain "to revert the situation in 24 hours."
"Morocco is not a threat to Ceuta, or to the rest of Spain. It is a reliable partner," Mr Marlaska emphasized.
Is it safe to travel to Morocco?
15:05 , Holly Evans
Tensions have risen at the border of Morocco after almost 60,000 migrants attempted to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Thursday.
Although the city sits several hours from tourist hotspots in Marrakech and Fez, holidaymakers may be concerned ahead of visiting the country.
Here’s the latest travel advice for Morocco during the growing border crisis.
Is it safe to travel to Morocco? Latest advice during Ceuta migrant crisis
Spain's opposition leader says they were 'aware of the threat'
14:44 , Holly Evans
Spain’s opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo says Spain was "invaded" in a "premeditated occupation of Spanish territory".
"We were aware of the threat," he said. "There was an awareness of this from at least the start of the week."
He added that the territory would be a strategic priority for his party if they should ever take power.
He argued that Pedro Sanches had failed in three areas, including immigration policy, border security and foreign policy.
"A responsible government would never have allowed this point to have been reached," Feijoo stated.
Trump wades into Ceuta ‘catastrophe’ as US blames ‘radical left-wing policies’ for migrant surge
14:17 , Holly Evans
Donald Trump has lashed out over the migrant “catastrophe” in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, while his White House administration have placed the blame on Madrid’s left-wing government.
The US president maintains a strained relationship with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, who has been one of his most ardent critics among EU leaders.
“I saw Spain yesterday, and I watched the catastrophe that took place. It looks like an invasion of a country,” Trump said in a cabinet meeting on Friday.
“Hundreds of thousands of people. And that same thing’s going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected, except worse, much bigger, much easier to get into.”
Read the full article here:
Trump wades into Ceuta ‘catastrophe’ as US blames ‘radical left-wing policies’
PM says UK offering Spain ‘what help we can’
13:57 , Holly Evans
Andy Burnham has said he has spoken to Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez and offered “what help we can” after around 60,000 migrants breached the border of its territory Ceuta in north Africa.
The prime minister was asked for his response to the crisis in the Spanish territory, which borders Morocco, as he attended a rally following Labour’s victory in the by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty on Saturday.
Mr Burnham told reporters: “I have been in touch with the Spanish prime minister and (we are) providing what help we can.”
His brief comments come as Spain announced it was installing a new barrier stretching along the breakwater fence into the sea after around 60,000 migrants breached the border during Thursday and Friday.
Ceuta's leader says 'this must not happen again'
13:50 , Holly Evans
The leader of Ceuta has stressed: “This must not happen again.”
Juan Jesus Vivas said the territory needs a "border that is fit for purpose" and that "preventative mechanisms" are needed.
"Ceuta is not back to normal yet," he warned, ,but added that "congratulations are in order" for the huge number of migrants who have since been returned to Morocco.
Giorgia Meloni calls for action in strengthening European response to illegal migration
13:40 , Holly Evans
In her latest criticism of the situation, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said: “The images arriving from Ceuta have once again demonstrated how urgent it is for Europe to respond to illegal immigration.
“This is why Italy has promoted, together with Denmark, a letter signed by 22 EU Member States, which calls for joint action to strengthen external borders, combat irregular immigration, fight human traffickers, make returns more effective, and eliminate any factor that could incentivize new illegal entries.”
She added that her country’s hardline stance on immigration was now being shared by an increasing number of European countries.
Le immagini arrivate da Ceuta hanno dimostrato ancora una volta quanto sia urgente una risposta europea all’immigrazione clandestina.
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) August 1, 2026
Per questo l’Italia ha promosso, insieme alla Danimarca, una lettera sottoscritta da 22 Stati membri dell’Unione europea, che chiede un’azione… pic.twitter.com/v8nmxzSYKn
Spain rejects suggestion country's stance had encouraged mass influx into Ceuta
13:20 , Holly Evans
Madrid said the people who entered Ceuta irregularly could not travel onwards to mainland Spain or elsewhere in the Schengen zone.
In a statement, the foreign ministry added that travellers leaving Ceuta by sea or air undergo police identity checks, representing a second layer of control after the land border with Morocco.
In contrast to most of Europe, Spain has adopted a more open stance on migrants, introducing a programme to grant residency to more than half a million undocumented people.
But it has rejected suggestions that the regularisation scheme had encouraged the rush into Ceuta, saying applicants must prove residence in Spain before January 1, 2026, and five continuous months of residence when applying.
EU governments call for emergency meeting
13:00 , Holly Evans
Ceuta and Spain's other North African enclave, Melilla, sit on Morocco's Mediterranean coast and periodically face attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe.
The latest attempt caused division in the EU, with several countries calling for Spain to ensure that the incident was contained.
Twenty-two EU governments called on Saturday for an emergency meeting of interior ministers over the Ceuta crisis, urging the bloc to help Madrid regain control of its border with Morocco.
Meanwhile, Spain's centre-left prime minister Pedro Sanchez also asked EU leaders to convene interior ministers urgently, but criticised governments that had called for Spain's exclusion from the bloc's passport-free Schengen travel area.
How arrival of 60,000 migrants into Spanish enclave could affect mainland Europe and the UK
12:40 , Holly Evans
Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Spain’s north African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco prompting concern from leaders across Europe about the integrity of their borders.
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez described the inflow of people as “an attack on Spain’s territorial integrity” and promised to “use all the resources of the state to guarantee security and coexistence”.
Leaders across Europe, including president of the EU commission Ursula von der Leyen, have called for swift returns of migrants back to Morocco. UK prime minister Andy Burnham described the chaotic scenes of migrants scrambling onto the shores as a “cause for concern” and said the UK had contacted Madrid to understand the implications and provide support.
Read the full analysis from our home affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft here:
How arrival of migrants into Ceuta could affect mainland Europe and UK
Some migrants determined to stay in Spanish encalve
12:20 , Holly Evans
Some who made it to Ceuta were determined to stay.
Among them was Mohamed Hatri, a 23-year-old Moroccan.
"They've closed everything down so that we can't buy anything to eat, to force us to return to our country," he said.
"But even if they close it down — we're round to stay here, whether we're hungry or not."
Spain installing 500 metre-long barrier across sea border
12:00 , Holly Evans
Spain announced it was installing a 500-metre-long (1,600-foot) containment barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and neighbouring Morocco after between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants breached the frontier earlier this week.
The death toll has climbed to 77, including some who drowned and others who were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier, the Spanish government said Saturday.
A handful of exhausted migrants who swam to Ceuta's urban Tarajal beach Saturday morning were met by soldiers who escorted them back across the border.
"We are relentless against those who break the law," Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told journalists in Ceuta on Saturday.
Migrants returning to Morocco fear retaliation
11:35 , Holly Evans
In Morocco, at Tangier's main railway station, migrants back from Ceuta or who had hoped to reach the European Union slept on the ground, exhausted, as passersby watched from a distance.
"I tried to cross, but I failed. I stayed near the border with Ceuta for two days, but I couldn't find anything to eat," said Abdalah, an aspiring migrant who asked that his last name not be published out of fear of retaliation for trying to cross illegally.
On the road leading to the Moroccan town of Fnideq, which borders Ceuta, many migrants were seen walking toward the fence, some barefoot, apparently hoping to try their luck.
Taxi drivers and bus operators were refusing to take them, fearing retaliation from authorities.
Spain hits back at Italy's 'selfishness' and 'party political point scoring'
10:54 , Holly Evans
Giorgia Meloni’s response to the Ceuta incident has received a sharp rebuke from Spain, who called for “less selfishness” and reminded her of the influx of migrants to Lampedusa in 2023.
When asked to respond to the Italian prime minister’s comments, Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gomez said: “I would say this, I would ask for more solidarity, more responsibility and less selfishness.
“The selfishness we’ve seen goes beyond ignorance. Ceuta is clearly not Schengen, we handled the situation in 24 hours, this party political point scoring in pointless.
“Lets remember Lampedusa in 2023, some people have a short memory.”
In September 2023, roughly 7,000 migrants, more than the total population, arrived via small boats to the Italian island of Lampedusa.
On Friday, Italy's government suspended its border-free travel arrangements with Spain, with Ms Meloni criticising "uncontrolled illegal immigration".
Spanish minister blames crisis on 'actions of mafias and human traffickers'
10:38 , Holly Evans
In a press briefing, Spain’s interior minister has pushed back on criticism of how his government have handled the Ceuta crisis, insisting that all resources were made available and that “normality is returning” to the enclave.
Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gomez blamed the surge of crossings on "the actions of mafias, human traffickers, and people who take advantage of vulnerable people".
Pushing back on criticism levelled by countries from leaders such as Giorgia Meloni, he added that "between 2021 and 2026, irregular entries to our country, have halved compared to Italy, for example
Breaking: Number of people killed rises to 77
10:25 , Holly Evans
Spain's interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gomez says the number of confirmed dead has now risen to 77.
'Life in this city has been disrupted', Ceuta president says
10:24 , Holly Evans
After days of chaos and streets packed with people who had hoped for a better life in Spain, residents of Ceuta woke up Saturday to an uneasy calm.
Even so, security for residents of the autonomous city of 84,000 remained bruised.
"Life in this city has been disrupted as a result of the border incident," said Ceuta's President Juan Jesus Vivas.
"The return of people has begun satisfactorily but the process must be completed," he said. "The city has not yet returned to normal."
Death toll rises to 67 after chaotic border crossings
09:53 , Holly Evans
The death toll in Spain's Ceuta border crisis with Morocco has climbed to 67, the Spanish government said Saturday.
They included some who drowned and some who were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier.
Spain announced it was installing a 500-meter-long containment barrier along the breakwater fence into the sea after some 60,000 migrants breached the tiny Spanish territory's frontier between Thursday and Friday.
A handful of exhausted migrants who swam to Ceuta's urban Tarajal beach Saturday morning were met by soldiers who escorted them back across the border.
Spain's interior ministry says the majority of those who entered the Spanish territory in North Africa have already returned to Morocco.
Elon Musk compares crisis to 2013 zombie film 'World War Z'
09:23 , Holly Evans
Tech trillionaire Elon Musk shared a video comparing footage from the Ceuta migrant crisis with scenes from the 2013 zombie apocalypse movie ‘World War Z’
In the 40-second clip, hundreds of zombies can be seen breaching a wall as terrified onlookers attempt to escape.
The former Trump adviser captioned the post: “Wow, the situation in Spain looks crazy!”
Clarifying the comparison was a joke, he then shared footage from 2023, showing hundreds of Venezuelan migrants attempting to cross into the US, captioning it: “This is what America looked like under Biden.”
US state department blames Spanish government
08:59 , Holly Evans
The US department of state has been far more categorical in placing the blame directly at the hands of the Spanish government, as Donald Trump continues to lead a tense relationship with their prime minister Pedro Sanchez.
“This unacceptable incident is the direct result of the Spanish Government’s deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe. We are considering actions to defend Americans at home and abroad from this threat and stand ready to assist other European allies considering similar options,” wrote the department.
'I just want a chance', says migrant who attempted crossing
08:40 , Holly Evans
When he heard the border had been breached, Abdulah Buji jumped on his motorbike and raced from his home in northern Morocco toward Ceuta, joining tens of thousands of people trying to swim into the tiny Spanish territory in North Africa.
Like many of his fellow countrymen, Buji was inspired by the thought that this collective crossing could somehow unlock his dream of reaching Spain and starting a new life in Europe.
"Spain gives you the chance to make your future, not like Morocco," said Buji, a 21-year-old who is studying to be a teacher. "I am a talented boy. I just want a chance."
But his elation at setting foot on Spanish soil was quickly followed by the disheartening realization that he was still far from his ultimate goal.
Mainland Europe rested across the Mediterranean, and he and the new arrivals were unwanted. Spanish authorities ordered everyone to turn around and go back or face eventual expulsion.
Buji said he almost joined more than 50 people who died trying to reach Ceuta while swimming around a border fence. He made it across, but he lost his belongings and money in the crossing.
When he realized that he would likely face legal limbo and detention, he turned around and headed back.
"I've spent perhaps 14 years studying, but there's nothing at home, and I'd have to work 12-hour shifts for a meager wage," Buji said. “That's why I came here, but I haven't found any opportunities here either, so I have to go back."
JD Vance claims crisis is result of 'radical left-wing globalist policies'
08:25 , Holly Evans
The US vice president has claimed that the migrant crisis in Cueta is a consequence of “radical left-wing globalist policies”, in a criticism of Pedro Sanchez’s government.
JD Vance wrote on X: “These images out of Spain are an unfortunate reminder of the consequences of mass migration and the radical left-wing globalist policies that have enabled the Invasion of the West.”
Thank God @POTUS was elected and our country’s border no longer looks like this.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) July 31, 2026
These images out of Spain are an unfortunate reminder of the consequences of mass migration and the radical left-wing globalist policies that have enabled the Invasion of the West.@BillMelugin_:… pic.twitter.com/b67fR3SEof
Russia 'using Ceuta crisis to sow destabilisation' across Europe
08:00 , Shweta Sharma
Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out an “intensive propaganda campaign” using pictures from Ceuta to “sow destabilisation”.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha claimed that Ukrainian analysts have identified more than 1,500 publications on a pro-Russian network, led by Pravda and RT.
“For years, Moscow has used migration and other sensitive topics to stoke fear and destabilise European countries,” he wrote on X.
Trump administration and House Speaker claim 'socialists are ruining Spain'
07:52 , Holly Evans
Both Donald Trump and the Republican Speaker of the House have weighed in on the crisis in Cueta, blaming the socialist Spanish government for weak immigration laws.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on X: "THIS is Marxism in practice: open borders, eroded sovereignty, and unlawful migration on a massive scale.
"What's happening in REAL TIME in Spain is EXACTLY the future the radical Left envisions for America.
"The socialists are ruining Spain just as they would the US."
Meanwhile, the US president likened scenes of migrants crossing the border to an "invasion".
During a Cabinet meeting at the Camp David retreat in Maryland, he suggested the Spanish government "doesn't know what to do" due to "bad management".
THIS is Marxism in practice: open borders, eroded sovereignty, and unlawful migration on a massive scale.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) July 31, 2026
What’s happening in REAL TIME in Spain is EXACTLY the future the radical Left envisions for America. The socialists are ruining Spain just as they would the U.S.
We MUST… https://t.co/Tt5KFc0L8a
Morocco 'facilitated migrant crossings' into Cueta
07:47 , Holly Evans
Morocco has been accused of facilitating the mass influx of 60,000 migrants to the Spanish enclave of Cueta, The Telegraph reports.
Western intelligence sources have said the incident could have been enacted as a punishment over diplomatic frustrations with Spain, who are pursuing gas deals with Algeria.
Morocco’s relationship with socialist Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez is said to be strained, although Spanish officials played down these rumours.
In 2021, a similar incident occurred but on a lesser scale, with Morocco funnelling 8,000 people into the enclave during a dispute with Madrid over the sovereignty of the Western Sahara.
'There's nothing at home': Moroccans sought better future in collective crossing to Spanish territory
07:30 , Shweta Sharma
When 21-year-old Abdulah Buji heard that the border into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta had been breached, he raced there on his motorbike, hoping the mass crossing would finally open a path to Europe.
"Spain gives you the chance to make your future, not like Morocco," the trainee teacher told the Associated Press.
Buji survived the dangerous swim into Ceuta, losing his belongings and money in the process, only to discover there was no route to mainland Spain.
Faced with the prospect of detention and eventual expulsion, he returned to Morocco.
"I've spent perhaps 14 years studying, but there's nothing at home," he said. "I just want a chance."
Europe faces border crisis as 60,000 migrants cross into Ceuta from Morocco in 24 hours: ‘Absolute chaos’
07:10 , Shweta Sharma
Europe faces a fresh border crisis after around 60,000 migrants from Morocco crossed into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in just 24 hours.
At least 57 people died as border security struggled to deal with the sudden influx, with extraordinary footage capturing the huge crowds making their way into Spain’s North African territory.
Some drowned in the crossing while others were killed in a stampede at the Tarajal beach fence near a border checkpoint with Morocco.
Europe faces border crisis as 60,000 migrants cross into Ceuta from Morocco
What to know about the Spanish territory of Ceuta
06:45 , Shweta Sharma
Ceuta and the larger Spanish territory of Melilla, which is some 400km (250 miles) east, are located on the northern shores of the Mediterranean coast at the tip of Africa.
Both autonomous cities belong to Spain and share the European Union's only land borders with Africa.
In Spanish possession since 1580, Ceuta is home to a mixed population of Christians and Muslims, and Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers who live in relative harmony.
Morocco does not officially recognise Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territory, and often refers to them as occupied lands.
The city of 85,000 has been a flashpoint in major diplomatic crises in recent memory between Madrid and Rabat.
In May 2021, the Moroccan government dropped its border controls and let some 8,000 people from Morocco and sub-Saharan countries pour into Ceuta in just two days.
The move was broadly interpreted as retaliation from Morocco for Spain's decision to allow a pro-independence leader from the disputed Western Sahara region to receive medical treatment at a Spanish hospital.
Tensions were defused and the border restored only after Spain's prime minister shifted his country's long-standing position on Western Sahara, and met with Moroccan King Mohammed VI the following year.
Ceuta and its sister city Melilla are heavily fortified, as the territories are seen as a destination for those trying to reach Spain from Morocco and other parts of Africa.
What happened during the violent clashes?
06:20 , Shweta Sharma
A night of unrest gripped Ceuta as nearly 50,000 migrants, most from Morocco, overwhelmed the border.
Security forces from both Morocco and Spain clashed with groups at several crossings as people tried to force their way over the fence and hurled stones at officials.
Moroccan forces initially managed to push them back towards their side of the border, and later unleashed tear gas on them.
At the gates into Ceuta, Moroccan authorities also deployed water cannon trucks and pushed people back.
The charred remains of a bus and seven cars could be seen nearby from the violence.
Those who died included some who drowned or were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier near a border checkpoint.
Smugglers 'deceive so many young people and lead many to their deaths'
05:53 , Shweta Sharma
Smugglers have been blamed for the Ceuta migration crisis, with Pedro Sanchez warning that they "deceive so many young people and ultimately lead many of them to their deaths.”
The Spanish prime minister said they had misinterpreted a recent ruling from the Supreme Court, which then triggered the mass surge.
“It appears that this interpretation of the Supreme Court's ruling spread like wildfire over the past few hours through the networks of human trafficking organisations, triggering the kind of mass surge we witnessed yesterday," Sánchez said.
Almost all Ceuta migrants have returned to Morocco, Spanish embassy says
05:43 , Shweta Sharma
The embassy of Spain in the UK says almost everyone who entered Ceuta yesterday has now returned to Morocco.
“It is not possible to travel from Ceuta or Melilla to mainland Spain without presenting identification at a police checkpoint. The integrity of the Schengen area is fully guaranteed,” it said.
'They told us we would have a place of refuge in Spain,' migrant returning to Morrocco recount
05:20 , Shweta Sharma
Young migrants who crossed into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta are returning to Morocco disillusioned after discovering that rumours of shelter, visas and onward travel to mainland Spain were false.
Many spent the night sleeping rough and relying on food from local residents before beginning the journey home, marking a painful end to their hopes of reaching Europe.
“Nobody helped us in Spain. They told us we would have a place to stay and a visa to travel to Algeciras, but it was all a lie,” 18-year-old Mohamed told El Pais after returning to Fnideq in northern Morocco.
He said he had travelled nearly 290km from Fez the previous day to cross into Ceuta via the border breakwater.
Many migrants' hopes of reaching Europe have gone unfulfilled. After sleeping rough in gardens and vacant lots and relying on help from locals or money sent by relatives, exhausted migrants packed into vehicles for the long journey back to their homes across Morocco.
Among them was Saina, 35, a single mother from the northern city of Larache, who travelled to the border with her one-year-old son, Yussef, hoping to start a new life in Spain. She believed her fluent Spanish would help her overcome the stigma faced by single mothers in Morocco.
"We'll be there soon," she said confidently in the early hours of Friday. By dawn, however, Moroccan security forces had cleared the area, ending her hopes of crossing.
In pictures: Spanish police crackdown on migrants crossing into Ceuta enclave from Morocco
05:02 , Shweta Sharma
Pictures from the deadly migration attempt show Spanish and Moroccan security forces launching a crackdown on people attempting to cross into Spain's Ceuta enclave.
Security forces fired water cannon at crowds, escorted women away from clashes, and confronted migrants gathered near the border.
Spain sent military and police reinforcements to Ceuta after the surge to control the crowds.
Italy and Spain clash over Ceuta migration surge as Meloni suspends Schengen accord
04:44 , Shweta Sharma
Italy and Spain have exchanged sharp diplomatic barbs after a mass migrant surge into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni described images from Ceuta as "shocking", calling the influx of migrants "uncontrolled immigration" and warning it posed a security threat to Europe.
Italy later suspended its participation in the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain. As the two countries do not share a land border, the move is expected to result primarily in additional checks on air passengers travelling between them.
Spain swiftly hit back, with foreign minister José Manuel Albares calling Meloni's remarks "improper" for "a partner and friendly country from which we expect European solidarity and not partisan demagoguery".
Madrid also summoned the Italian ambassador on Friday as tensions between the two EU allies escalated over the migration crisis.
'I feared for my life': Migrant describes chaos during attempted crossing
04:21 , Shweta Sharma
A migrant said he feared for his life after being caught in a stampede during an attempted crossing into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.
He was among thousands of people who converged overnight on the Moroccan border town of Fnideq in one of the largest recent attempts to reach Europe.
"I feared for my life," said the migrant, who declined to give his name.
He described chaotic scenes of people pushing and stepping on one another along a narrow coastal route.
Spain dispatched military and police reinforcements to Ceuta after thousands attempted to cross from Morocco. Spanish state broadcaster TVE said between 2,000 and 3,000 people reached the enclave on Thursday.
Despite a heavy Moroccan security deployment, including water cannon trucks and reinforced border patrols, migrants continued arriving in Fnideq through the night.
Groups moved along the coastline seeking routes around the border fence, while others prepared to swim to the enclave after finding official crossing points blocked.
Moroccan teen says Instagram videos inspired bid to reach Europe
04:15 , Shweta Sharma
Moroccan Ayoub El Abyad, who was hoping to be one of roughly 60,000 migrants who entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco, said they wanted to try their luck after watching social media videos.
The 16-year-old Moroccan Ayoub El Abyad said he scrolled through Instagram videos showing migrants crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta and decided he wanted to go.
"Migration is about improving our lives. We agreed we would try the idea of crossing and trust in Allah," El Abyad told Reuters on the Moroccan side near the border with Ceuta, after completing the journey by hitching rides with two drivers.
Young people in Morocco have been frustrated by poor public services and poverty and the issued spilled over into a major protest last year.
A quarter of Moroccans aged between 15 and 24 are not in education, employment or training, official data show.
