Ceuta Leader Proposes Confining Migrants Pending Expulsion

Juan Jesús Vivas, the president of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, has called for the “confinement” of migrants in detention centers to prevent their movement within the territory while awaiting deportation. This proposal follows a migration surge where 72,000 people arrived from Morocco, according to the government in Madrid, as reported by rtl.be and Le Temps on August 10, 2026.

The proposal has created a political divide between the right-wing local administration in Ceuta and the left-wing central government in Madrid. Vivas, a member of the Parti populaire (People’s Party), described the current situation in the North African enclave as “intenable, inacceptable” during a press conference, according to Le Temps.

Vivas is urging the Spanish state to implement an urgent plan to restore normality to the city, which has a population of 84,000. He estimated that between 8,000 and 11,000 migrants currently remain in the enclave, according to reporting from Le Temps and rtl.be.

Proposed Detention Centers and Movement Restrictions

The president of Ceuta is advocating for the creation of dedicated spaces to serve as foreign detention centers. According to Le Temps, Vivas stated that these facilities would be used to place migrants so they can remain confined.

Under this proposal, the freedom of movement for these individuals would be restricted until their expulsion files are processed and finalized. Vivas emphasized that this measure is necessary to manage the influx of people who arrived illegally by foot or by swimming, as reported by rtl.be.

While the central government in Madrid reported that 70,000 of the 72,000 arrivals departed the enclave quickly, the remaining thousands have become the center of this political dispute, according to Le Temps.

Security Increases and Central Government Response

Ángel Víctor Torres, the Spanish Minister of Territorial Policy, has not publicly endorsed Vivas’s proposal for confinement. However, Torres expressed support for the local population and announced a significant increase in security presence in the enclave, according to Le Temps.

Torres reported that security deployments in Ceuta have increased by 40%. This includes an approximate 30% increase in Guardia Civil agents, as well as additional personnel from the police and the army, according to Le Temps and rtl.be.

Rather than discussing expulsions, Torres highlighted the importance of establishing family reunification for migrant minors who arrived in Ceuta, according to Le Temps.

Local Unrest and Public Demonstrations

The migration crisis has triggered significant public protests within the enclave. On Sunday, a demonstration took place where participants called for an end to the crisis, according to Le Temps.

There are conflicting reports regarding the size of the protest. Organizers claimed more than 10,000 people gathered to say “Assez!” (Enough!), while police figures placed the number of demonstrators at 5,000, according to Le Temps.

Juan Jesús Vivas described the demonstration as “exemplary” in his remarks to the press, as reported by Le Temps.