Hundreds of people gathered in Constitution Square on Sunday afternoon to demand urgent solutions to the ongoing migrant crisis and to defend the spirit of coexistence in the city of Ceuta. The protest, held under the banner "Enough is enough, Ceuta will not surrender," brought together the city's four religious communities—Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Hindu.
Participants used the rally to voice strong criticism of the central government in Madrid, with many protesters explicitly accusing the administration of abandoning the autonomous city during this period of instability.
The atmosphere in the city remained tense throughout the day. In the Plaza de los Reyes, friction erupted upon the arrival of Spanish far-right political activist Vito Quiles, as members of the crowd accused him of attempting to divide the local population. Despite these tensions, Ceuta’s President, Juan Jesús Vivas, had actively encouraged residents to participate, emphasizing that the rally was intended to remain above party-political differences.
Vivas stated on Saturday that the gathering was not for any specific party or individual benefit, but rather a collective call to demonstrate that the city would not give in and would continue to move forward.
The crisis has placed significant pressure on local infrastructure. On Saturday, President Vivas met with the Minister for Youth and Children, Sira Rego, who traveled to the city to assess the situation, particularly regarding the influx of unaccompanied migrant minors. The government has identified 1,342 such minors, though officials acknowledge that others have yet to be registered.
Following their meeting, Vivas described the situation as "absolutely unsustainable" and formally requested that the central government provide additional resources and security personnel. He maintained his government's firm stance that these minors should be returned to Morocco, stating, "The only way out is Morocco via the Tarajal border crossing."
Minister Rego emphasized the government's commitment to protecting minors, noting that each case must be examined individually. While she defended the goal of family reunification whenever possible, she acknowledged that many of the unaccompanied children do not have families, meaning the autonomous communities must act as their guardians to guarantee their rights.
Rego pledged that the government would deploy all necessary financial, technical, and human resources to support Ceuta, noting that a technical team is already on-site to coordinate with autonomous communities.
The next major point of friction is expected to be the Sectoral Commission on Children and Adolescents, scheduled for August 13, which will address the transfer of minors. However, the political party Vox has already announced that its vice presidents in Castile and Leon, Extremadura, and Aragon will boycott the meeting, reiterating their opposition with the slogan "children with their families."
Beyond the local situation, the crisis has triggered a broader diplomatic confrontation between Spain and Italy. Spain recently decided to temporarily reinstate controls at ports and airports for travelers arriving from Italy, a move made after Rome refused to lift its own controls on passengers arriving from Spain following the events in Ceuta last week.
Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani described Spain's retaliatory measures as "incomprehensible and totally unacceptable." Tajani argued that Italy suspended the Schengen area rules only because of the "extraordinary" events in Ceuta and insisted that Rome has a duty to protect its borders.
He further accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of intensifying the situation.
The diplomatic spat has drawn sharp criticism from various political corners. In Spain, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid region, questioned the government's priorities, asking how the state could ban Italians—a "brother country" that invests in Spain—while allowing thousands to enter illegally through Ceuta.
Alberto Nadal, deputy secretary for Economy and Sustainable Development for the PP, accused the Sánchez government of isolating Spain within the European Union.
Meanwhile, the President of Extremadura, María Guardiola, criticized the government's response, arguing that the focus should be on facing the situation with humanity and a firm voice rather than creating territorial fractures. In Italy, opposition parties have similarly criticized Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government for creating an "unfounded" diplomatic crisis.
Despite the heated rhetoric, both Spain and Italy have informed the European Commission that their respective border controls are temporary. European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, confirmed on Saturday that both nations have signaled the provisional nature of these measures, with indications that Italy may soon lift its checks.
Spain’s retaliatory measures are currently set to remain in effect until September 7. Throughout the ordeal, President Vivas has reiterated his need to maintain "institutional loyalty" and a "sense of state," even while criticizing the central government for what he described as "stumbling twice on the same stone" following the 2021 border crisis.
