Thousands of migrants have swum into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after border controls were relaxed in Morocco. In 24 hours, 6,000 people had paddled in inflatable boats, swum with rubber rings, or walked through the shallows at low tide. 1,500 were thought to be teenagers. Spanish troops were deployed to Ceuta to patrol the border. Moroccan migrants have crossed land and sea borders to Spain by the hundreds for weeks. Adults were transferred to a football stadium and returned to Morocco, minors went to an industrial building. Spanish / Moroccan tensions are high after the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, was admitted to a Spanish hospital without informing Morocco. The Polisario Front fights for the independence of Western Sahara and contests all Morocco's claims. Many believe lax Moroccan border control, facilitating easy access to Spain, was in retaliation for Spain treating Brahim Ghali.
Spain: migrants swim from Morocco
Written by David Fletcher 20 May 2021Additional Info
- Pray: for EU law to be obeyed and that, regardless of circumstances, refugees will be allowed to transfer to mainland Spain to access lawyers, translators and medical personnel. (Isaiah 1:17)
- More: news.sky.com/story/ceuta-6-000-migrants-including-children-swim-from-morocco-to-spanish-enclave-12309701
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