Spain deports migrants from Ceuta in move criticised by rights group | Migration News
Spain Deports Migrants from Ceuta Amid Criticism
Published Oct. 27, 2026
Spain has deported more than a dozen migrants from its North African enclave of Ceuta, sparking criticism from Amnesty International. The organization accused Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing government of jeopardizing the human rights of those affected.
This marks the first deportation of its kind since a mass border crossing from Morocco into Ceuta in July. The Spanish Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that the deportations occurred after the migrants’ asylum applications were rejected and that Morocco had agreed to accept them.
According to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), 16 individuals from various African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries were deported. This follows a significant influx of migrants, with approximately 80,000 people entering Ceuta from Morocco over a 48-hour period in late July. That incident resulted in at least 100 fatalities during the crossing into the enclave, which spans just 18.5 square kilometers (7.2 square miles) and has a population of about 80,000.
The situation has presented a substantial political challenge for Sanchez, who is preparing for snap elections scheduled for November 29. In recent months, tens of thousands of protesters have expressed their discontent with the government’s management of the migration crisis, while right-wing parties have criticized Sanchez’s approach. Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox Party, has labeled the prime minister a “traitor.”
Amnesty International has raised concerns about the potential risks to human rights for those deported from Ceuta on Tuesday. Virginia Alvarez, a researcher for the organization, stated, “Spain, despite its progressive speeches in Europe, is not ensuring that human rights guarantees are met for people who cross its borders in Ceuta and Melilla,” adding that “Morocco does not respect many human rights.”
In response to the criticism, Madrid has defended its actions. The interior ministry contended that the European Union recognizes Morocco as a safe country and that deportations are conducted “with all the necessary safeguards.”
While many of those who entered Ceuta in late July have since departed, approximately 8,000 migrants remain in the enclave. Some are living on the streets, while others have received assistance from Spain, charities, and civil society organizations.
