Spain has installed a 500-metre-long sea barrier off the coast of Ceuta after a mass migrant crossing that left at least 67 people dead, the Spanish government said Saturday. The deaths included migrants who drowned and others killed in a stampede as they attempted to cross a breakwater barrier.
The barrier was put in place after roughly 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave, a major entry point into Europe. The influx has sparked a political crisis for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a pro-immigration leader now facing backlash at home and abroad.
Spain's foreign minister defended the government's handling of the situation, insisting that "the integrity of the Schengen area is absolutely guaranteed." The statement appeared aimed at reassuring European partners concerned about border security. The enclave of Ceuta, on Morocco's northern coast, has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over migration into Europe.