Overview
- The July 30–31 surge of roughly 72,000 mostly Moroccan migrants into Ceuta overwhelmed the tiny enclave, produced dozens of deaths and forced rapid returns of the vast majority.
- Italy suspended Schengen travel arrangements with Spain on Aug. 1 and said it would keep controls until at least Aug. 15, prompting Spain to start reciprocal checks on travellers from Italy on Aug. 8.
- Spain's Interior Ministry reported about 199 travellers were checked on the first day of controls at major airports, and Madrid has said its controls will run through early September unless conditions change.
- Thousands remain in Ceuta, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors who cannot be summarily returned, and local leaders have demanded detention and faster expulsion facilities to relieve strained services.
- Intelligence reports and social‑media monitoring have flagged a possible new wave in mid‑August and an alleged 'concrete' Islamist terrorism risk, a development that has sharpened security concerns and widened the political dispute over EU migration policy.