Around 10,000 migrants remain in Ceuta after August influx, mayor says

CEUTA, Spain — About 10,000 irregular migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco are still in the city, Ceuta Mayor Juan Jesús Vivas said, according to local media reports. Vivas described the recent influx as an attack and a violation of Spanish territorial integrity, telling reporters that the figure was based on official estimates. Spanish daily 20 Minutos reported that calls for a new wave of migration to Ceuta on August 15 have been circulating on social media. Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast bordering Morocco, drew attention in late July after a sharp rise in the number of migrants attempting to enter by swimming and on foot. Spanish authorities said roughly 72,000 people entered the enclave, the majority of whom have since returned to their countries of origin. Moroccan officials estimated the number of entrants at around 40,000. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized the cross-border movement as an attack and a breach of Spain's territorial integrity. Additional police, Civil Guard and armed forces units have been deployed to Ceuta to reinforce border security.