MADRID, Aug 02 (Alliance News): A recent surge of irregular migrants attempting to reach Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta has been driven in part by misinformation circulating on social media, according to reports, as thousands tried to enter the territory from Morocco.
Nearly 50,000 irregular migrants have recently attempted to enter Ceuta, many swimming across the sea or using floating devices. The dangerous crossings have resulted in at least 67 deaths, making it one of Spain’s most serious irregular migration crises in recent years.
The European Commission said it is prepared to assist Spain through the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and other mechanisms to help address the growing migration challenge.
The latest wave of crossings follows a ruling by Supreme Court of Spain in July regarding Ceuta and Melilla, where a special border management system is in place.
Under the ruling, migrants arriving in Ceuta or Melilla by sea cannot be returned immediately, while those who cross the border fences by land may still be subject to immediate return under Spanish law.
However, the court’s decision was widely misinterpreted on social media, with false claims suggesting that anyone who swam into Ceuta would automatically be allowed to remain in Spain and eventually obtain legal residency.
Analysts believe the misinformation spread rapidly online and may have encouraged thousands of migrants to undertake the perilous sea journey, contributing to the recent surge in crossings and the rising death toll.
