The Government reinforces with more personnel the transfer of migrants in Ceuta and Vivas warns that the city "cannot withstand a year like this"

The Government will reinforce this Friday the device deployed in Ceuta with more personnel to complete the transfer of migrants remaining on the beaches and secure the area of El Trampolín, where around 500 people returned a few hours later after leaving the settlement. The operation aims to recover the sandy area, prevent a new occupation, and keep open the route to the temporary resources enabled in Loma Margarita and Loma Colmenar, the latter located next to the Tarajal border.

The action comes after a day with significant advances and a setback that left the work unfinished. More than 1,200 migrants left El Trampolín on Thursday escorted by the National Police and the Civil Guard, but part of the group returned in the afternoon with blankets and belongings. The cleaning had to be suspended for security reasons as the police device protecting the municipal workers had already been withdrawn.

The Executive wants to prevent that scene from repeating itself. Agents will accompany the new movements and remain in the area while shacks, waste, and belongings accumulated over the last three weeks are removed. The facilities in Loma Margarita and Loma Colmenar now have 1,800 places, 300 more than initially announced, and the Ministry of Inclusion is preparing to activate new spaces in the coming days.

Minister Elma Saiz will hold meetings this Friday in Ceuta with the Elín Association and with representatives of the most affected neighborhoods. According to the official government agenda, Ana Redondo will also participate via videoconference in the monitoring of the contingency plan against gender violence activated by the crisis and in a meeting of the coordination units against violence against women.

More police presence to close the settlement

The first transfer was organized voluntarily and separated the groups to facilitate coexistence in the new facilities. People from sub-Saharan Africa were taken to Loma Margarita, while Maghrebi migrants moved to El Embolsamiento de Loma Colmenar. Both spaces have water, food, toilets, beds, and psychosocial care.

The Minister of Migrations defended on Thursday that the 1,800 places represent merely "the tip of the iceberg" of the response the Government is preparing. Saiz assured that resources will continue to be activated and highlighted the coordination between the central Administration, the Autonomous City, and social entities. The return of hundreds of people to El Trampolín, however, forced a review of the necessary police presence to consolidate each transfer.

This deployment adds to the reinforcements sent in recent weeks. The Interior Ministry has incorporated 45 police officers from the Prevention and Reaction Unit and 20 specialists from Immigration and Borders, responsible for expediting identification, international protection requests, and return procedures. The Government has also mobilized 37 million euros for the emergency, of which 25 million are allocated to the care of minors and 6.5 million to the work of humanitarian organizations.

In parallel, preparations continue for the transfer to the Peninsula of about 500 especially vulnerable girls and adolescents. The Ministry of Youth and Childhood plans to use state-run places and facilities managed by social entities. Each case must be processed individually and with the protection guarantees required for minors.

Feijóo and Vivas harden their stance with the Executive

The president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, considers the transfer to other parts of the city insufficient and demands that the State send more personnel from Immigration, Asylum, and Police. According to data collected by his Government, between 25 and 30 cases would be processed daily, a pace that would prolong the departure of those without authorization to remain in Spain for at least a year.

"At this rate, the people who have arrived would not leave Ceuta for at least a year. Ceuta cannot withstand a year in this situation," warned Vivas during his appearance alongside the Andalusian president, Juanma Moreno. The Ceuta leader has requested a permanent presence of the Asylum and Refugee Office and faster resolutions, although he acknowledged that the number of cases comes from external sources as he had not received official data.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo closed his visit to the city demanding a single command, the return of all people who entered irregularly on July 30, and greater firmness with Morocco. He also denounced a "public health crisis" after meeting with doctors and nurses. Healthcare professionals maintain their warnings about care pressure, while INGESA maintains that the hospital still has 120 beds available and reminds of the incorporation of more than 60 workers.

The Government responded harshly to the PP leader's speech. Minister Óscar López accused Feijóo of holding a rally to "scratch a handful of votes" and stated that it is "impossible to distinguish him from Vox." Elma Saiz recalled that minors require an individual evaluation, intervention by the Public Prosecutor's Office, and guarantees regarding the conditions of a possible return. Sira Rego called the proposal to expel them en masse a "barbarity".

The pressure on the Executive has also reached the PSOE of Ceuta. Regional deputies Melchor León and Sebastián Guerrero demanded this Thursday a faster response, the permanent presence of Frontex, and greater health resources. Both leaders assured that they prioritize the interests of the city over party discipline.

Eight ministers will appear in Congress while the PP awaits the Supreme Court for the Senate

The crisis will have its main stage in Congress starting next Tuesday. Eight ministers will appear between August 25 and 31 to explain the actions of their departments. Ana Redondo has been the last to request it and will attend the Equality Commission on Monday 31 to report on the protection protocols for women and girls and actions against sexual assaults reported in Ceuta.

Margarita Robles will open the appearances on Tuesday 25. Félix Bolaños and Mónica García will attend on Thursday 27. José Manuel Albares, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and Elma Saiz will do so on Friday 28. Sira Rego and Ana Redondo will close the calendar on Monday 31, according to the schedule communicated by the Government.

The PP keeps another front open in the Senate. Marlaska was again absent this Thursday from the Interior Committee, his second no-show during August, and the president of this body, Fernando Martínez-Maíllo, described the Executive's conduct as "undemocratic." The popular party has taken the conflict to the Supreme Court to try to get Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Defense to also appear in the Upper House before September.

The appeal requests precautionary measures under article 135 of the Law on Contentious-Administrative Jurisdiction. The PP asks the Government to communicate within 24 hours the availability of the ministers and facilitate the holding of the committees before August 31. The party argues that the absences violate the senators' right to exercise their functions, as stated in article 23.2 of the Constitution.

The Executive maintains that the Senate's calls were set unilaterally and without agreeing on dates compatible with ministerial agendas. The first parliamentary explanation will arrive on Tuesday, when Margarita Robles appears before the Congress's Defense Committee.