Tens of Thousands of Migrants Cross Into a Tiny Spanish Territory in One Day

In 24 hours before 31 July 2026, over 49,000 migrants swam or walked into Ceuta — a small Spanish city of 85,000 on Africa's coast. At least 18 died. Spain sent soldiers and closed a nearby border. The prime minister visited the scene as rivals demanded answers. This dwarfed a 2021 wave of 10,000 arrivals.