Spanish Police Move Ceuta Migrants to Tented Port Site with Limited Capacity

Spanish police began moving hundreds of migrants from Ceuta’s beaches to a temporary port site on Friday, September 18, 2026, after weeks of rough sleeping. The tented facility at Muelle de Poniente has showers and beds, but its capacity falls well short of the number of people still living outdoors.

The site can accommodate about 1,700 to 1,800 people. Estimates of migrants remaining in the beach settlements ranged from more than 3,000 to more than 4,000.

The transfer began at about 6:30 a.m. Officers moved people from Benítez and El Trampolín, two of the largest settlements in the enclave. Crowds gathered quickly.

Police struggled to control people jostling for places at the new site. Another account said migrants ran toward the port and officers used force to restore order.

Around 150 officers took part in the transfer. The temporary center was intended for adult males, while authorities kept minors separate.

Crowds rushed the port as officers opened the temporary site

Ángel Víctor Torres, Spain’s minister of territorial policy and the official coordinating the response, described the operation as orderly. He wrote:

“Hoy hemos dado un paso muy importante en Ceuta. Hemos trasladado, con éxito y sin incidentes relevantes, a 1.700 personas migrantes, desde las playas del Trampolín y Benítez a dos dispositivos en el Puerto.”

His account said 1,700 migrants had been moved from the two beaches to two port facilities. Accounts from the scene, however, described pressure among migrants trying to obtain space inside the temporary site.

The transfer followed a Thursday ruling by Spain’s National Court that allowed the temporary use of port facilities. The decision came after weeks of legal and political disputes over where authorities could house people sleeping on the beaches and pavements.

A Thursday court ruling cleared the port for temporary use

A transport ministry order described the area and capacity differently from the estimates circulated for the tent city.

The Spanish-language phrase “a millar de personas” means about 1,000 people. The different figures reflect separate descriptions of the temporary reception arrangements and the facilities available at the port.

Authorities in the territory estimate that 13,000 migrants remain across its 18.5 square kilometre area. The central government disputes that figure, putting the number lower.

One NGO estimated that about 4,000 people were still sleeping outdoors after the first movement. That left a large group outside even if the new site reached its stated capacity.

The July crossing left the enclave facing a larger housing shortage

The current pressure followed a mass crossing from Morocco in late July. One account said more than 70,000 people entered on July 30 and 31, although most later returned.

Spain’s government said 5,321 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco by August 10. Another 90 had withdrawn asylum requests, while nearly 1,000 more migrants were being registered to complete return procedures.

Those figures reduced the number remaining in the territory but did not end the housing crisis. People continued sleeping at Benítez, El Trampolín and on nearby pavements before Friday’s operation.

Pedro Sanchez faces criticism as the transfer exposes the capacity gap

Pedro Sanchez faces strong criticism over his handling of the crisis. His government is also navigating a dispute with Italy over that country’s temporary reimposition of border controls.

The relocation proceeded after the court authorized temporary use of the port. It gives authorities beds and showers for some migrants, while leaving the wider beach encampments unresolved.

The new arrangement is therefore a first transfer, not a full clearance. The remaining beach settlements continue to test the limits of the temporary facilities opened at the port.