Undocumented Migrants Into Ceuta Will All Return to Morocco: Spanish FM

Most of those who entered Ceuta illegally have returned to Morocco, but around 10,000 remained in the enclave.

On Tuesday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that the undocumented migrants who entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in late July will all return to Morocco.

He made the remarks during a visit to Ceuta. More than 70,000 people illegally crossed the border into the enclave from neighboring Morocco at the end of July, according to Spanish government estimates.

About 100 people died during the massive migrant influx, Ceuta President Juan Vivas told an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs last Thursday.

Most of those who entered Ceuta illegally have returned voluntarily to Morocco, but around 10,000 remained in the enclave, Vivas said recently.

Morocco has reportedly deployed up to 24,000 personnel ahead of another planned mass crossing into Ceuta on August 15.

WhatsApp and Facebook groups are promoting the attempt with cryptic slogans including: “That day, everything will make sense.”

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Albares, the foreign minister, said some migrants had been misled by online disinformation into believing that entering Ceuta would give them the right to travel to mainland Spain or elsewhere in Europe.

“No one has left the city for the mainland (Spain),” he said. “The diplomatic work we are doing with Morocco is aimed at returning all those who have entered irregularly.”

Spanish authorities have canceled all leave for military personnel and Civil Guards stationed in Ceuta amid online reports of plans for another mass border crossing on Aug. 15.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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