According to reports from the Spanish National Guard cited by Le Monde on Sunday, since a large number of immigrants flooded into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta at the end of July, at least 15 cases of rape have been recorded. The massive influx of immigrants has triggered multiple crises.
In a latest case on August 14, three men were arrested after attempting to sexually assault a 10-year-old girl. Previously, four girls under the age of 14 reported suffering from sexual assault at the hospital. Huda University Hospital has received about a dozen patients with injuries suspected of being the result of sexual assault. Since many cases have not yet been reported, the actual number of victims may be higher.
Susana Ascaso is an accident and emergency physician at the hospital. She confirmed that her department has handled several cases involving suspected rapes of minor immigrants. She said that many girls under the age of 14 are forced to live on the streets because the shelters are full.
According to Abdellah Mustafa, the head of the community association in Sidi Embarek, southern Hodea, locals have turned a futsal court into a temporary shelter for immigrant girls. Meanwhile, the police are also investigating several cases of sexual assault against minors.
The main location where this immigration issue arose is Ceuta, which is a overseas enclave. An enclave refers to a special territorial area completely surrounded by the territory of another country and not connected to the mainland of the country it belongs to. Together with Melilla, Ceuta is one of Spain’s terrestrial territories in Africa, and it also serves as the only land border between the EU and the African continent. Ceuta has been under Spanish jurisdiction for hundreds of years. The local ethnic groups are diverse, but there is still a dispute over territorial sovereignty between Spain and Morocco.
Since it is only about 5 kilometers from Fonindeck in Morocco to Huda, and the crossing to Huda via Beliuneh is even closer, Huda has become the preferred route for immigrants to enter.
In recent decades, the number of immigrants from Spain's overseas territories has increased significantly. Of the 50 million population, about 10 million were born abroad, and many of them came from Colombia, Venezuela, and Morocco. In 2022, approximately 2000 people attempted to enter Melilla from Morocco, most of whom came from southern North Africa, along with workers from Eastern Europe.
Over the past decade, the number of foreign immigrants in Spain has continued to increase. The number of foreign workers registered in the agricultural sector alone exceeds 250,000.
There are multiple factors contributing to the large number of immigrants moving to Spain. In some regions, the local employment situation is poor, and the labor force continues to grow, with limited increases in job opportunities. For example, statistics from the World Bank show that the labor force in Morocco has been growing over the past decade, at a rate of about 11.4%, while the increase in job opportunities has been relatively modest.
In addition, Spain's immigration policies have been misinterpreted or even maliciously exaggerated by foreign parties, which has pushed immigration into these two enclaves.
The Spanish Supreme Court previously ruled that immigrants intercepted at sea on their way to Hawaría cannot be deported directly. This humanitarian measure does not mean “no deportation”. However, due to misinterpretation of the policy, Hawaría has recently experienced a “smuggling wave” involving tens of thousands of people, resulting in at least 67 deaths.
From July 30th to 31st, in just two days, it is estimated that more than 72,000 immigrants flocked to this area. This number is almost 70% of the local population last year, which was 84,000 people. The influx of immigrants has also laid the groundwork for various crises.
Not only that, the Spanish government has also proposed a "amnesty period". Foreign nationals who arrive in Spain before December 31, 2025, and can provide documentation proving they have lived in Spain for at least 5 months and have no criminal record, are eligible to apply for legal residency status. The application period is expected to start in April this year and end at the end of June.
Although legally speaking, illegal crossing into Spain cannot be considered a ‘genuine amnesty’, this relatively lenient legal environment gives illegal migrants the hope of possibly being granted another ‘amnesty’ in the future.
Large-scale undocumented migration has brought many disadvantages to Spain, not just the recent cases of sexual assault. In areas where immigrants gather, diseases such as gastroenteritis and scabies have emerged, making it difficult for local medical institutions to conduct comprehensive health screenings. Local medical professionals warn that the overcrowding and lack of proper sanitation facilities for thousands of immigrants living outdoors could lead to further spread of diseases. Tens of thousands of immigrants remain in the streets, putting local hospitals, shelters, and law enforcement systems under prolonged strain.
While Spain is aware of the risks and controversies associated with immigration, it still adopts such policies because the immigrant population can bring advantages to Spain's economy and society.
According to the China International Immigration Research Network, Spain's Minister of Integration, Social Security and Immigration, Emma Casas, stated, "Foreign workers are crucial to the success of Spain's macroeconomy. They contribute to GDP growth and support a strong and resilient labor market." She emphasized that among Spain's 22 million registered employed people, 14.1% are foreign nationals. This has effectively boosted GDP growth and strengthened the labor market.
Spanish central bank research shows that the country will need 25 million immigrants over the next thirty years to maintain the normal operation of its economy and social security systems.
In response to the chaos related to immigration, Spain has introduced several management policies. Madrid has deployed troops to Huelva to promote the repatriation of illegal immigrants. The Spanish National Guard has also been stationed in Huelva to address issues related to public order and security. Unaccompanied minor immigrants are being registered with identity bracelets, and some children will be transferred to welfare agencies in Spain for care.
Spain has also collaborated with Moroccan authorities. By relying on Morocco to strengthen border security, both countries are working together to prevent another round of large-scale cross-border activities and to deport illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, Spain has also introduced a legalization scheme for annual renewable residency visas. Fixed application periods are set, and two criteria—length of residence and no criminal record—are required for applications. Immigration status applications are being processed in an orderly manner.
Immigration is an important tool for Spain to maintain economic and social balance within its country. Despite the significant challenges it poses, the policy of welcoming immigrants will not be halted.
However, the immigration crisis has heightened tensions within the EU. Twenty-two EU countries have jointly criticized Spanish policies. Italy has implemented temporary entry checks for travelers arriving from Spain, and France has strengthened border controls. EU Commission President Von der Leyen has stated that she hopes to establish more barriers and border security forces along European borders.
European countries and North African neighboring countries have each introduced measures to address the situation. Multiple EU countries have jointly written a letter criticizing Spain, and also plan to strengthen the overall European border defense line.
This immigration turmoil has created many chaotic situations, and in fact, several parties still benefit from it.
Population smuggling organizations can use false information about border opening to make money through organized smuggling activities.
Morocco can leverage the immigration crisis to gain more bargaining power in negotiations with Spain regarding the territorial sovereignty of Hodea and Melilla, as well as bilateral economic and trade issues.
On the other hand, if Morocco acts too aggressively, other African countries may be willing to expand their cooperation with Spain in order to gain more benefits.
European right-wing parties use immigration safety issues to gain voters' support.
Israel is widely suspected of being behind this incident, while the United States has criticized and pressured Spain after the event began. Since Spain's previous positions on conflicts in Gaza and related issues involving Iran were contrary to those of the US and Israel, it is possible that the US and Israel have taken this opportunity to retaliate against Spain.
But those who are left helpless will ultimately be those who end up on the streets, subjected to sexual assault. They were already pawned during the smuggling process, and when they suffer harm, hardly anyone in the larger game pays any attention to them. However, being reduced to pawns and sacrifices should not be their fate.
