Archbishop of Tangier calls for sensible migration pact amid Ceuta influx

Archbishop Emilio Rocha of Tangier said that the recent surge of Moroccan migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta was not organised by human‑trafficking mafias. He argued that most migrants cross without paying smugglers, driven by social‑media information, economic hopes and the desire for a better life in Europe. Rocha also linked the increase to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limited immediate returns of those who entered Ceuta by swimming, which he said encouraged many young people to attempt the crossing.

He urged both the Spanish and Moroccan governments to reach a “pact of reason” that would protect borders while respecting the dignity and rights of migrants, and warned against using the crisis as a political weapon. Rocha cited figures of roughly 60,000 migrants entering Ceuta and 57 deaths during the recent episode, calling for a joint strategy that balances security with humane management of migration.