49,000 migrants invade Spanish enclave in 24 hours

I would be saddened too, but not at all amazed or suprised.

But many wouldn’t understand how it had happened.

Galaxy

Yes but the population will vote for the 'far right', and to be honest why wouldn't they.

They might, until they realise that a right wing government can’t stop the boats either. People are desperate for a simple solution to an extremely complex problem, and such a solution simply doesn’t exist.

Sunshinegirls

As everyone could have guessed, many of the 50 000 illegal migrants who crossed into Ceuta and Melilla yesterday spent the night by breaking into homes, looting stores and clashing with the Spanish police (copied from a post on X)

There's a video of them rampaging through the town but I don't know how to post it.

Let's call it what it is an invasion.

OK, if that's the case, I take back the word influx I used for that number descending on a town. They are obviously causing immediate havoc. I don't like the sound of Spanish women being harassed either.

The Spanish PM says they are all going to be sent back to Morocco.
‘Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as an "attack" and said all illegal migrants would be returned to Morocco "as soon as possible". Several European leaders have expressed concern, some promising to tighten border controls.
More than 25,000 have returned to Morocco voluntarily so far, officials said.’

There is very little stopping people getting into Melilla, a wire fence in the sea. and once they get round the corner they are there, in Spain. For those who are looking for a better life and frankly that’s understandable, it’s easy.

Casdon

The Spanish PM says they are all going to be sent back to Morocco.
‘Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as an "attack" and said all illegal migrants would be returned to Morocco "as soon as possible". Several European leaders have expressed concern, some promising to tighten border controls.
More than 25,000 have returned to Morocco voluntarily so far, officials said.’

So something can be done after all?

It does have to be seen as a long-term geopolitical dispute between Spain and Morocco about territory in North Africa. It was Portuguese before it was Spanish. It doesn't excuse what is happening, but it is not about desperate people fleeing a war torn country. Morocco is, after all, a popular holiday resort.
It is lucky that the relationship between Britain and Spain over Gibralter, despite some disputes, has not been as conflict ridden.

fancythat

Casdon

The Spanish PM says they are all going to be sent back to Morocco.
‘Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as an "attack" and said all illegal migrants would be returned to Morocco "as soon as possible". Several European leaders have expressed concern, some promising to tighten border controls.
More than 25,000 have returned to Morocco voluntarily so far, officials said.’

So something can be done after all?

So it would seem.

MT62

MT62

You go first greyfur

It would be a drop in the Ocean what you could do for them.

I don't know what you mean,sorry.

I don't want to do anything "for them"

There is a lot of poverty in Morocco, especially obvious to those in the major towns which attract ‘wealthy’ tourists which then highlight the poverty.
As for the small towns with no tourism, there is a great deal of poverty.
Why did so many of us leave for Australia et al ? For a better life.

Morocco isn’t considered a dangerous country, and despite the poverty Moroccan citizens are unlikely to be granted asylum in Europe though.

Casdon

The Spanish PM says they are all going to be sent back to Morocco.
‘Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as an "attack" and said all illegal migrants would be returned to Morocco "as soon as possible". Several European leaders have expressed concern, some promising to tighten border controls.
More than 25,000 have returned to Morocco voluntarily so far, officials said.’

Sanchez can say that all will be returned and hope for it. However the Spanish government cannot just deport all that remain of 60,000 migrants that crossed by sea instantly without legal and procedural arrangements being adhered to.

There are bi lateral agreements with Morocco do allow for fast tracked and expedited returns under specific circumstances and may have been used for a proportion of the 37,000 already returned.

A Spanish Supreme Court ruled that migrants cannot be rejected or immediately pushed back without due process. Express deportations may be legally allowed for individuals breaching land borders but maritime arrivals fall under stricter procedural requirements in law. This evidently is material for countries and islands with sea borders like the UK and migrants may or may not be aware of their maritime arrival legal rights.

Spanish and international law also prohibits the immediate expulsion of unaccompanied minors or individuals belonging to vulnerable groups who have to be processed individually.

Of the 60,000 who came a significant number, reported currently as 37,000 have already been returned- so it looks like negotiation and bilateral cooperation is underway. Its reported that many went back voluntarily but not under what circumstances or whether any payments were made by the Spanish government (not that I'm aware of at least) Continued bilateral cooperation is Pedro Sachez best bet for the highest proportion of rapid returns.

However unaccompanied minors or vulnerable migrants that resist return have a legal right to be processed it appears.

Casdon

Morocco isn’t considered a dangerous country, and despite the poverty Moroccan citizens are unlikely to be granted asylum in Europe though.

I agree, but they have a right to make an asylum application and be processed and put their case.

Yes, the headlines are already losing some of their potency as action is being taken. I hope they are being transported back by boat though, not swimming.

LemonJam

Casdon

Morocco isn’t considered a dangerous country, and despite the poverty Moroccan citizens are unlikely to be granted asylum in Europe though.

I agree, but they have a right to make an asylum application and be processed and put their case.

I don’t think many at all will, because they know it’s likely to be unsuccessful, it’s more likely to be citizens of other countries who were using Morocco as a staging post to get to Europe who will go down that route.

Greyfur, If you could do something, you would! Like what? feed them, house them?
What a few dozen out of what 49000!
I would wish for a few thousand to return safely back to where they came from.
I am sure that town hasn’t got the infrastructure to support that many people without proper planning.

Do we know the proportion that were Moroccan citizens and the proportion that were not?

It may be the quickly returned 37,000 were Moroccan citizens returned either voluntarily, either with or without inducement or via bilateral agreements?

Those that remain may or may not be Moroccan citizens. If using Morocco as a staging post to get into Europe, maritime arrival laws and asylum laws apply and if resistant to return will need to be processed.

The UK being a country of sea borders has exactly the same maritime arrivals legal challenges (small boats) and hence why we negotiate arrivals/returns agreements with France since the UK left the EU.

I doubt if there has been time or manpower to process them yet, so we don’t have the detail of where they were originally from, but it says on the news that criminal networks were involved so it’s very unlikely they were all Moroccan. at the latest report this evening, 48,000 have returned to Morocco.

BBC news this evening has said many are leaving realising there is nothing for them in Ceuta and no easy route to Europe.
Many are still there but they may go when they find there is nowhere to stay and I doubt enough food for all of them.

Rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas was used so I guess that was enough to prove to them that they were not welcome.

Pictures showed thousands of them arriving in just shorts or swim shorts obviously with no spare clothes or anything. Did they think they were just going to be fed and clothed?

They are led to believe "paved with gold".

Wyllow3

They are led to believe "paved with gold".

Indeed and we have to get it through to migrants that the UK is not paved with gold either. We have to stop the pull factors.

More than 25,000 have returned to Morocco voluntarily so far, officials said

Yes I read that too Casdon. According to the article I read the migrants said it wasn't as they'd expected and were happy to go home.

Invasion is a horrid word, and designed to "other" people MartavTaurus.
I think you know this.
... and I don't think an Invasion of grockles is much nicer to be honest.

Some of them, probably most , seemed to regard it as an adventure. Well organised and appealing to young and fit men. None of them looked starved or oppressed. No doubt they will tell their grandchildren about their ‘adventure’ in the future. I wonder how many will cross into the rest of Europe ?