Thousands of migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday, prompting calls for military assistance from local officials.

Thousands of migrants entered the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday. The surge led local officials to request a national emergency declaration and the deployment of the military to secure the border. Spain's Interior Ministry stated it would work to ensure border integrity but rejected the call for a national emergency, noting that current legislation does not classify migration flows as a national security risk.

Local Government Demands

Juan Jesus Vivas, the head of Ceuta's regional government, requested that the national government deploy the army and additional police to the border. Vivas argued these measures are necessary to maintain citizen safety and the inviolability of the frontier. He had previously warned on Wednesday that local reception centers were at capacity, with hundreds of migrants sleeping on the streets.

Government Response and Cooperation

The Spanish Interior Ministry stated that it is coordinating a response to the situation and that the Moroccan government is cooperating by deploying police to stop individuals attempting to cross. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is scheduled to visit Ceuta on Friday to evaluate the conditions on the ground.