Urgent Request: Establish a Foreigners’ Internment Center
On August 10, 2026, Juan Jesús Vivas, President of the Autonomous City of Ceuta, Spain, made an urgent appeal to the central government to establish a Foreigners’ Internment Center (CIE) in the city. The request aims to address the severe situation caused by a large number of migrants being stranded locally following the massive illegal border crossing event on July 30-31. Vivas explicitly stated that the purpose of the detention center is to legally restrict their freedom of movement while their deportation procedures are being processed.
Public Safety at Risk: Thousands of Migrants Stranded
According to the Ceuta local government’s assessment, approximately 8,000 to 11,000 migrants remain stranded in the city after the late-July crossing event. In his statement, Vivas emphasized that with thousands of people on the streets without basic accommodation and living support, the situation now poses a “high risk to public order and social safety.” The local authorities’ capacity is overwhelmed, necessitating more robust intervention measures.
A Multi-pronged Approach: Call for Centralized Command and More Resources
In addition to establishing a detention center, Vivas also proposed a series of comprehensive demands. He called for the creation of a “single command center” involving multiple ministries of the central government to uniformly coordinate and evaluate all actions in response to the crisis. At the same time, he requested the central government to increase human and material resources needed to process deportation files, covering departments such as foreigner affairs, justice, public prosecution, and the police. Vivas stressed the need to send a “clear and unambiguous message” that Spain has the determination and capability to defend its borders and prevent similar incidents from recurring. He warned: “This cannot happen again on August 15 or any other time.”
Escalating Border Situation: Military Alert and New Crossing Threats
The request from Vivas comes amid a renewed escalation of border tensions. Calls have appeared on social media for a new mass crossing attempt on August 15, putting authorities on high alert. To counter the potential threat, the Spanish Ministry of Defense has ordered the cancellation of all leave for military personnel stationed in Ceuta to fully assist the police in maintaining order and strengthening border control. Although the central government has enhanced its military and police presence in Ceuta, it has not yet formally responded to President Vivas’s specific proposals, including the establishment of a detention center. As the new threat looms, the Ceuta local government is under immense pressure, urgently seeking decisive support from Madrid to restore order in the city.
