Spain makes intelligence service documents about the migrant crisis in Ceuta public

The Spanish government approved on Tuesday the declassification of approximately 40 intelligence service documents concerning the massive and illegal entry of migrants into Ceuta on July 30 and 31. The reports will be made public on Wednesday in an attempt to clarify what the government knew before the crisis and what role Morocco played.

More than 70,000 migrants entered this Spanish territory from Morocco, raising questions about whether authorities had received warnings. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez maintained that the government had received no information enabling it to anticipate the crisis, nor solid evidence that Morocco had organized the influx.

The declassification follows the publication of a police report that referred to the “permissiveness” of Spanish forces and handling that allegedly facilitated the migrants’ entry. Spanish prosecutors have opened an investigation based on this information.

Most of the migrants quickly returned to Morocco, but thousands of people remained in Ceuta. The authorities arranged approximately 3,400 accommodation places and are seeking to expand capacity to 6,000. Expulsions are being hindered by identification procedures, asylum applications, and the special protection granted to minors.",