More than 5,300 migrants who remained in Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta after a mass influx in July have voluntarily returned to Morocco, the Spanish government says.
Migration Minister Angel Victor Torres said 5,321 migrants had returned to Morocco since August 10, while another 90 had withdrawn their applications for international protection.
Torres said nearly 1,000 additional migrants were being registered to complete the return process.
More than 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta on July 30 and 31 in an unprecedented influx, although most returned to Morocco within hours.
Thousands who remained in the territory have since undergone checks to determine whether they qualify for asylum.
Unaccompanied minors cannot be summarily deported under Spanish law.
The exact number of migrants still in Ceuta remains disputed. The city’s conservative leader estimates that about 13,000 migrants remain, while the Spanish national government puts the figure significantly lower.
Authorities are expanding temporary shelter capacity to accommodate the migrants, with plans to provide up to 6,000 places.
The migration crisis is also increasing political pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ahead of next year’s election.
Africanews
