The U.S. Embassy in Spain on Friday issued a security alert after thousands of illegal immigrants from Morocco crossed into the country this week as the Spanish government deployed its military to address the rush.
“The arrival of thousands of migrants from Morocco to Ceuta and hundreds to Melilla in the past 24 hours may lead to unpredictable and dangerous situations,” the Embassy said in the alert.
Spain’s government has “deployed the Spanish military to contain the developing situation, together with Spanish National Police and Guardia Civil,” it said, referring to the country’s Civil Guard.
Ceuta is an autonomous city located on the North African coast, bordered by Morocco and near the Strait of Gibraltar. Melilla is also an autonomous city located on the North African coast.
U.S. officials advised American citizens not to “travel to the affected areas at this time,” avoid any demonstrations that it said could “become violent,” follow instructions from local officials, and look for updates in media reports or through the Spanish government.
The Spanish government’s representative in Ceuta said 57 bodies had been recovered on the Spanish side of the border and that there could be additional casualties on the Moroccan side. It said some drowned and some were crushed while trying to climb the breakwater that holds the border fence.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said around 50,000 people had crossed the border since Thursday morning, and estimated that 48,300 had returned by 6 p.m. on Friday. Juan Jesus Vivas, head of Ceuta’s local government, said as many as 60,000 people had pushed across over the past couple of days.
Italy said it was suspending the European Union’s border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain, a measure set to affect people travelling by plane or boat between the two countries. Madrid said the move violated EU treaties.
A “temporary suspension … is a necessary choice to safeguard the security of our citizens and defend the European borders,” said Antonio Tajani, Italy’s deputy prime minister, in a post on X. “A measure provided for by the treaties and made unavoidable today.”
EU nations, he added in Friday’s comment, “must work together to prevent uncontrolled migrant flows from entering EU territory, with all the consequent risks and the threat of terrorism, which must be countered without hesitation.”
Migrants cross on foot into the North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco by attempting to swim, according to Spain’s Guardia Civil, near the border with Ceuta, in Fnideq, Morocco, July 30, 2026. Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump, a long-time critic of Spain’s socialist-led government, told a Cabinet meeting on Friday that the illegal migrant crossings look “like an invasion” of Spain.
“That same thing’s going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected, except worse,” he said, referring to the midterm elections in November and illegal immigration across the U.S.–Mexico border.
Currently, the U.S. Department of State lists Spain as “Level 2,” or “exercise increased caution,” because of “terrorism and unrest.” That listing was issued in May 2025.
Reuters contributed to this report.
