The Spanish exclave of Ceuta is preparing a second eviction and cleanup operation at Trampolín beach on Friday after approximately 500 migrants returned to establish a makeshift camp. The return occurred on Thursday afternoon, just hours after authorities had cleared the beach and transferred people to temporary reception centers.
Local cleaning crews had entered the beach on Thursday morning following the initial eviction, believing the situation was resolved. However, migrants quickly returned to the site, driven partly by fears that being relocated to the central government's four new reception centers would lead to their deportation to Morocco. Throughout the week, they had constructed makeshift shelters on the beach using reeds, cardboard, and plastic bags.
Discrepancies exist regarding the number of people involved in the initial clearance. While police sources asserted that around 4,000 people were evicted on Thursday morning, government officials placed the figure closer to 1,500. These individuals were moved to temporary facilities, including Loma Margarita and El Embolsamiento, which have a combined capacity of 1,800.
The regional government temporarily suspended its cleaning operation on Thursday afternoon because it could not guarantee the safety of the workers as the migrants returned. Officials warned that the cleanup would be halted again on Friday if the situation remains unstable.
Juan Vivas, the president of Ceuta, criticized the management of the crisis, stating, "Moving them from Trampolín to other places in Ceuta does not show a willingness to solve the problem."
In response to the situation, Minister for Migration Elma Saiz announced that the central government would increase the capacity of migrant reception facilities in the area to 4,000 places. Aside from Loma Margarita and El Embolsamiento, the other agreed-upon sites include the Hípica military base, the former football pitch of the Cavalry barracks, and the El Guano area.
The Red Cross distributed approximately 4,000 food bags near the beach on Thursday. This distribution contributed to the high concentration of people at Trampolín beach, as many migrants do not reside there but visit the area to secure food. Overnight, journalists observed about 10 tents pitched on the sand alongside the makeshift shacks.
