Minister Torres accelerates plan to restore normality in Ceuta: 800 migrants transferred and over 200 expelled

The Government has transferred this Monday close to 800 migrants who remained in the streets of Ceuta to the reception resources enabled in recent days. The Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, has acknowledged that the operation has been completed "not without difficulties", but has presented it as a decisive step to order humanitarian attention and expedite the files.

Torres, responsible for the single command created to coordinate the state response, explained in 'Al Rojo Vivo', on laSexta, that among the people transferred there are mothers with their children, accompanied minors and adults. Once inside the resources, the teams must identify them, that is, verify their identity and register their situation, before studying whether they request international protection or must return to Morocco.

"What we have to do is to have them in these resources, to have them identified and, from there, proceed as soon as possible to expedite the return," he said. To accelerate this work, the Executive has incorporated 60 National Police officers and another 11 specialized workers in asylum procedures.

The minister has avoided offering a closed figure yet on how many people remain in Ceuta. That data will arrive when all have been identified and are in controlled spaces. Torres has indicated that around 1,400 minors are already identified, although there is still an undetermined number outside the protection system.

More than 200 expulsions and maximum firmness

During a previous interview on 'Espejo Público', on Antena 3, Torres confirmed that more than 200 people have already been expelled from Spain after having acted, according to his words, "outside the law". The minister has guaranteed a firm response to any criminal conduct. "We will be absolutely intransigent," he warned.

These expulsions correspond to people about whom a specific decision had already been made. The return of the rest requires identifying each migrant, checking their circumstances and individually resolving any request for international protection. Torres estimates that most will lack the right to asylum, although each file must complete the legally foreseen procedure.

"Everyone, except those with international asylum rights and minors who have not been reunited, will have to be returned," he explained. The minister insisted that returns will be carried out "according to the law" and recalled that close to 90% of those who entered massively at the end of July returned to Morocco within the first 48 hours.

The Government already has more than 3,000 temporary places and is working with the Autonomous City to reach 6,000. The increase in capacity aims to remove people from the streets, guarantee basic care, and facilitate faster work for the National Police, Immigration, and asylum teams.

Eleven ministries to organize the response

Since last week, Torres has been leading the single command approved by the Council of Ministers after declaring Ceuta in a "situation of interest for national security." Under his coordination, eleven ministries, the Government Delegation, the Ceuta Executive, the National Intelligence Center, and the Department of National Security are working.

This structure must coordinate border security, accommodation, healthcare, protection of minors, asylum applications, and returns. Torres has argued that he is facing a different phase of the crisis, now focused on restoring normality to the streets and completing the processing of those who remain in the city.

The minister warned this Sunday that a prolongation of the violence could cause a "total breakdown" and delay solutions. This Monday, he highlighted that food distribution has proceeded normally and without new attacks against Red Cross volunteers. "Violence leads nowhere," he stressed.

Torres also announced an increased presence of the Civil Guard, National Police, and Armed Forces in the coming days. The minister guaranteed that the school year will begin normally and set the immediate goal of returning Ceuta to the situation it maintained before the crisis. "I know what needs to be done and I am sure we will achieve it," he affirmed.