Spain approves migrant camp at Ceuta port despite local opposition

Spain's government has approved the establishment of a temporary migrant camp in the port area of Ceuta, overriding objections from local authorities who opposed using the port for this purpose. The move marks the latest chapter in ongoing disputes over how to house migrants in the Spanish enclave in North Africa.

Spanish state broadcaster RTVE and other media reported on Saturday that Transport Minister Óscar Puente signed a decision allowing a temporary tent camp to be set up in the port area, after local authorities had issued a contrary decision.

Juan Jesús Vivas, president of Ceuta's local government, announced on Friday his rejection of the camp in the port, citing the area's importance in supplying the enclave's needs and the presence of a large fuel depot nearby.

The dispute is not limited to the port location. Local authorities had previously opposed other temporary accommodation options for migrants, including an abandoned factory, a former military hospital, and sports centers.

Meanwhile, construction continues on an additional camp in the Los Rosales neighborhood, with capacity for around 900 people, although the site has seen protests from residents.

These measures come amid a rise in the number of migrants in Ceuta, after around 72,000 migrants from Morocco either swam to the enclave or climbed border fences on July 30 and 31, according to government figures. Most returned within hours.

Despite the majority returning, about 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta more than a month later, within an area of just 18 square kilometers, including 1,200 minors, according to government data.