The Spanish government has reversed its initial commitment regarding migrants who illegally crossed into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in North Africa, announcing it will begin housing hundreds of them on the Spanish mainland.
When the crisis first erupted at the end of last month, Madrid had pledged that no illegal migrant entering Ceuta would be accepted into Spain proper.
According to Spain's Interior Ministry, the country will this week absorb an initial wave of 500 migrants classified as "unaccompanied minors", individuals under 18 who crossed into Ceuta without family members. These migrants will be relocated not within Ceuta itself, but to mainland Spain, marking a significant departure from the government's original stance.
The crisis unfolded on July 30-31, when between 70,000 and 100,000 illegal migrants crossed en masse into Ceuta. Spain continues to grapple with the aftermath of that unprecedented influx.
