A Moroccan man prays in the morning at a makeshift camp set up by migrants on El Trampolín Beach in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
On July 30, 2026, a surge of migrants from Morocco crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta by sea. Over the course of 2026, at least 72,000 migrants crossed into Spain from Morocco. Since then, Spain has been working to respond to the asylum claims from these individuals. With this huge surge in migration, Spanish authorities have been accused of human rights violations while working on shortcuts for asylum applications with the intention of sending most people home to Morocco. In response, Spanish lawyers and NGOs have criticized the Spanish government, with Spain’s Commission for Assistance to Refugees and Oxfam describing these measures as a “grave threat” to Spain’s commitment to human rights conventions.
On June 12, 2026, the EU introduced reforms that overhauled immigration and asylum policy across Europe. This came as a result of far-right nationalist parties gaining popularity across Europe in the past decade, with calls for stricter migration laws. The new EU-wide policy introduced stricter border controls, faster asylum case processing and increased deportations. These reforms were initially adopted in 2024, with a two-year implementation period. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the pact as “fair and firm,” but the policy has received criticism from charities for its potential to bring about rights violations. Since the introduction of this policy, Amnesty International has been a vocal critic of these immigration reforms, arguing that they “will put people at heightened risk of human rights violations”.
Residents protest the Spanish government's handling of the Ceuta border crisis, two months after it occurred, in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The policy has raised further concerns about migrant rights in Ceuta.NGOs on the ground in Ceuta argue that the 12-week deportation limit set out in the EU’s Migration pact is unrealistic, and only applies pressure to countries to speed up deportation in a way that may lead to rights violations. Since July, many migrants have reported allegations of abuse and mistreatment from Spanish authorities. On September 30, 2026, Amnesty International published a report detailing allegations of inhumane treatment by Spanish soldiers. Amnesty International Spain Director told Reuters that photographs and videos it reviewed were consistent with allegations of excessive force. Whilst the Spanish Defence Ministry has responded to these claims by opening an investigation, there are still concerns that this will not be enough to adequately protect the rights of asylum seekers. Last week, eight charities including Oxfam and Amnesty International filed a complaint with Spain’s ombudsman alleging “grave rights violations” in Ceuta.
Anti-immigration sentiment is gaining power as a political force across Europe. Dutch Migration Minister Bart van den Bring argued that “in situations like Ceuta, it should be treated as a border management issue rather than an asylum issue.” Several EU member states have been criticised by charities such as amnesty international for neglecting the rights of migrants. As EU policy becomes increasingly restrictive toward migrants and charities continue to criticize member states’ handling of asylum seeker deportations, questions remain about the future of migrant rights across the EU.