The Government shields El Tarajal and accelerates returns after the massive entry of migrants into Ceuta, which already leaves at least 72 dead

The Government has focused this Sunday its management of the migratory crisis in Ceuta on accelerating returns, maintaining security reinforcement and assisting those who still remain in the city. The border has recovered calm after the entry of more than 50,000 people from Morocco, but the humanitarian consequences continue to grow.

The Government delegate, Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, has raised to 72 the official number of deceased migrants during the entries of recent days. The figure may still increase as bodies continue to appear on the coast and numerous Moroccan families search for missing relatives, including minors.

The president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, places the number of bodies received at the morgue at 88. Part of these bodies could correspond to previous crossings made during the last two weeks, so there is still no closed balance that allows attributing all deaths to Thursday's avalanche. Forensic experts and identification specialists will travel to the city to expedite autopsies and cross-reference available data.

Returns, barriers and an overwhelmed CETI

Security Forces estimate that around 73,500 departures to Morocco have been registered since the beginning of the crisis. This data also does not equate to that number of distinct people, as it may include migrants who arrived in previous days, people who crossed multiple times, and repeated movements across the border.

The Government maintains that practically all of those who entered irregularly have already returned, although it is still difficult to know how many people remain in Ceuta. Pérez Triano has announced that pending files will be expedited to execute returns "as soon as possible" and has assured that the almost 3,000 police officers, civil guards, and military personnel deployed will remain "as long as necessary".

The Interior Ministry has also declared the barriers installed in El Tarajal fully operational. The device combines a 500-meter pneumatic structure with a line of buoys anchored by the Navy. The Civil Guard permanently monitors the intermediate navigation channel and is responsible for the maintenance of the infrastructure.

The reduction in entries contrasts with the situation around the Temporary Immigrant Stay Center. More than a thousand people, mainly sub-Saharan, wait in the mountains and beaches near a CETI that already houses more than 700 migrants despite having 512 places. The Army distributes water and the Police maintain a security device after the attempted forced entry recorded on Saturday night.

Health estimates 1,622 assists provided since Friday. The Ministry assures that the system has not suffered any collapse and keeps several people hospitalized, including a patient in the ICU, minors and two newborns after a twin birth. The pressure has been reduced, but the reception capacity continues to be clearly exceeded.

The Executive admits that it lacked prior information about an entry of these dimensions. Pérez Triano has assured that the Delegation began to know what happened when it saw thousands of people crossing, while Fernando Grande-Marlaska has denied the existence of a CNI report that warned of the crisis. The minister maintains that Morocco remains a reliable partner and attributes the mobilization to mafias and messages spread on social networks.

Sánchez takes the crisis to Brussels

The other part of the governmental response has been transferred to Europe. Pedro Sánchez has sent a letter to Ursula von der Leyen to denounce the "asymmetric" reaction of several community partners and reject that Spanish migration policy caused the massive entry.

The president has accused some governments of acting moved by "prejudices, fake news, ignorance or political interests". His main clash has occurred with Giorgia Meloni, who announced the temporary suspension of free movement with Spain despite the fact that Ceuta has a special regime and does not allow those who enter irregularly to travel directly to the Schengen area.

Sánchez also recalled that Spain collaborated with Italy during the Lampedusa crisis and called for a common response to protect external borders. The Irish Presidency of the EU has accepted his request and will convene an urgent meeting of Interior Ministers this Tuesday.

Ceuta will face that meeting with the border stabilized and most of the migrants back in Morocco. The almost 3,000 troops will remain deployed, the CETI will continue to receive emergency support, and forensic experts will try to name the bodies recovered from the sea.