More than 2,000 migrants returned to the beaches of Ceuta after the temporary reception center ran out of space

More than 2,000 migrants were forced to return to the beaches of Ceuta on Friday after the new temporary reception center set up in the city’s port reached capacity. The facility could accommodate 1,700 people, while more than 4,000 people had been transferred from Trampolín and Benítez beaches.

The operation took place under the escort of Spain’s Civil Guard and National Police, but the authorities encountered difficulties maintaining order. The migrants, who have been living on beaches and streets for weeks, fought for a place in the center, and police officers fired warning shots into the air. No serious incidents were reported.

Because the migrants returned, the beach-cleaning operation was postponed. Approximately 3,000 people remain on the city’s streets, according to government sources.

The crisis began at the end of July, when more than 70,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave. Kissy Chandiramani, a member of Ceuta’s autonomous government, described the transfer as chaotic and called for the return procedures to be accelerated. One hundred cases are processed daily, and the procedures could be completed in 15 days if more resources were available.