Just days after thousands of migrants stormed into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the northern tip of Africa, the situation at the border has begun to reverse. Many of those who managed to cross by swimming or climbing the fences are now voluntarily returning to Morocco, describing a reality entirely different from what they had expected.
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Ceuta: false promises on social media and a harsh reality
The majority of those who made the crossing admit they were misled by deceptive videos circulating on social media and messages from friends, which portrayed the border as easy to cross and promised immediate entry into Europe.
Many migrants who swam or jumped over fences to rush into Spain’s African enclave of Ceuta this week were returning home, with some saying hunger, exhaustion and hostility from locals had crushed their hopes of a new life in Europe https://t.co/KQH9EiIipD pic.twitter.com/lmwn82OO7k
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 2, 2026
However, upon arriving in Ceuta, they found themselves trapped, with no way to continue on to mainland Spain.
“We came for a better future, not to be fooled”
Brahim, a bakery worker from the city of Fez, quit his job after seeing videos on social media showing thousands of people crossing the border. “We came to move forward in life, not to be made fools of,” he said.
He described spending three days surviving on nothing but water, as he could not afford the price of food. “How can a tuna sandwich cost 100 dirhams (€9.20)?” he asked incredulously.
“Ceuta felt like a prison”
Similar accounts have emerged from other migrants who returned to the Moroccan town of Fnideq, which sits directly across the border from Ceuta. Streets that had been packed with people just days earlier were now almost deserted, as hundreds of young men moved away from the border or waited for taxis to take them back to their home cities.
Many reported finding supermarkets and shops closed, leaving them without access to food or water. “Ceuta was like a prison. There was nothing to do and everything was shut,” said a worker from the Tanger Med port, who asked to remain anonymous.
Reports of hostile conditions
Some migrants also claimed they were attacked or driven out by residents of the El Príncipe neighbourhood, an area with a strong Moroccan presence within Ceuta.
Moroccan waiter Yassine Issou said he was attacked and forced to leave the area. “They boxed us in so we’d have no choice but to leave Ceuta on our own. And it worked,” he said, referring to the closure of local businesses. These specific claims have not been independently verified.
What Spanish authorities are reporting
Spain’s Interior Ministry confirmed two separate knife attack incidents in which two people sustained minor injuries, with one of the perpetrators arrested.
Authorities also clarified that since the beginning of the migrant crisis, no deaths from knife attacks have been recorded in Ceuta.
The city gradually returns to normality
In the centre of Ceuta, the situation has begun to stabilise. Some cafés have reopened and residents have returned to the streets, although a heavy police presence remains. Marina Castaño, a 24-year-old whose family runs two cafés in the city, explained their decision to reopen. “Life has to get back to normal, but the safety of our staff remains our top priority,” she said.
“These young people are being used”
Despite the fear triggered by the sudden arrival of thousands of people, many local residents also expressed sympathy for the migrants. Tito, a hardware store owner, said he feels both frightened and concerned. “You feel overwhelmed by the situation, and also powerless. These young people are being exploited. They’re being used as bargaining chips,” he said.
“I won’t go back, even if it kills me”
Not everyone, however, has given up. Mohamed Ahmed, a 43-year-old Sudanese man, recounted how he was transported by truck to the border and then swam for four hours to reach Ceuta. Although he says police are preventing migrants from reaching the reception centre, he remains determined to stay in Spain. “I am not going back. I would rather die trying here,” he said defiantly.
