Melilla sees 156% surge in irregular migration arrivals

Melilla has recorded a 156.7 percent increase in irregular migration arrivals during the first half of 2026. According to data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior and the Frontera Sur Observatory, 647 irregular entries were recorded between January and mid-September, compared to 252 during the same period last year.

The majority of these arrivals, totaling 624 cases, occurred via the land route between Melilla and the Nador region, involving both attempts to scale the border fence and crossings through the official border post.

While Melilla saw a sharp relative increase, it accounts for approximately 3 percent of the 21,906 total irregular entries recorded across all of Spain as of mid-September. This overall Spanish figure represents a 16.5 percent decrease compared to 2025. Combined, the cities of Melilla and Ceuta recorded 4,700 land entries this year, a 78.7 percent increase over the previous year. Migration trends across Spain remain varied, with significant decreases noted in the Canary Islands.