Spain sends over 48,000 migrants back to Morocco from Ceuta; dozens dead

Core Impact Points

• Over 25,000 migrants have been sent back to Morocco from Ceuta, Spain, following a deadly border rush.
• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused 'human trafficking mafias' of exploiting a recent Supreme Court ruling that makes it harder to turn away migrants arriving from Morocco by sea.
• The situation has drawn international attention, with European leaders calling for stronger border controls.
• Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish enclaves on the North African coast, are heavily fortified and have been a destination for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or an escape from violence in their home countries.
• The European Union has reacted to the situation, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni calling for the suspension of the Schengen agreement, which allows freedom of movement within member states.
• Spain's government has deployed its army and sent extra forces to Ceuta, including diver teams and Maritime Service vessels, to strengthen border controls and facilitate the repatriation of migrants.