Hunger, hostility: Ceuta migrants return home after Europe dream turns into nightmare

The rush of migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta is beginning to reverse, with many of those who crossed the border earlier this week returning to Morocco after days of hunger, uncertainty and shattered expectations.

Several migrants who had swum around coastal barriers or climbed border fences said they believed they were taking the first step toward a new life in Europe. Instead, many found themselves stranded in a city with no clear route to mainland Spain and few basic necessities.

Viral videos fuelled the surge across the border

Many of the migrants said their decision to leave was driven by social media, where videos showing thousands crossing into Ceuta spread rapidly over the past week.


For many, those images created the impression that the heavily fortified border had effectively opened, encouraging people from across Morocco to make the journey.

Brahim, a bakery worker from Fez, said he quit his job after watching online clips and hearing from friends who claimed reaching Europe had become possible.

His hopes quickly faded after arriving in Ceuta.

He said he spent three days surviving only on drinking water because food prices were beyond his reach, recalling that even a simple tuna sandwich cost far more than he could afford.

Migrants describe isolation and lack of essentials

As the influx slowed, roads leading back into Morocco told a different story.

In the border city of Fnideq, groups of exhausted migrants walked away from the crossing or waited for transport home after abandoning their attempts to remain in Spain.

Many described finding supermarkets and local businesses closed, making it difficult to buy food, water or other essentials while they waited for the situation to improve.

Several migrants compared their experience in Ceuta to being trapped, saying they had no realistic way to continue their journey to mainland Europe.

Tensions reported in parts of Ceuta

Some returnees claimed they were chased away or intimidated in El Príncipe, a neighbourhood with a large Moroccan-origin population. Reuters said it could not independently verify those allegations.

Spain's Interior Ministry confirmed that police responded to two separate knife attacks in the city, leaving two people with minor injuries. One suspect has been arrested, while authorities said no fatalities linked to the incidents had been reported since Thursday.

The security presence across Ceuta remained highly visible, with police patrols continuing across the city as officials sought to restore order.

Businesses slowly reopen after days of disruption

Life in central Ceuta has begun returning to normal, although the impact of the migrant surge is still being felt.

Some cafés reopened over the weekend, welcoming customers for the first time in days, while many other businesses remained closed.

Business owners said reopening was important for restoring normalcy but acknowledged that concerns about staff safety remained.

The influx also disrupted businesses across the border in Morocco. A hotel near Fnideq reportedly lost its entire kitchen team after workers joined the rush into Ceuta, forcing management to recruit replacements.

Aid centres under pressure as thousands remain

Relief workers said migrant reception facilities in Ceuta have reached capacity, leaving little room for new arrivals.

Despite growing numbers of people returning voluntarily, aid organisations estimate that thousands of migrants remain inside the enclave, waiting to learn what comes next.

Local residents described mixed emotions, saying the sudden arrival of large crowds had caused anxiety while also highlighting the desperation driving many young migrants to risk dangerous crossings.

Some argued that vulnerable people had been manipulated by false hopes of easy access to Europe.

Some migrants refuse to give up on reaching Europe

Not everyone is heading back.

Mohamed Ahmed, a 43-year-old migrant from Sudan, said he spent four hours swimming to reach Ceuta after being dropped near the border.

Although he claimed police were preventing migrants from reaching a reception centre, he insisted he would not return home, saying he would rather continue trying to build a future in Spain than abandon the journey.

The contrasting experiences underscore the human cost of the latest Ceuta migrant crisis, where hopes of entering Europe have collided with harsh realities on the ground, leaving many migrants caught between uncertainty, exhaustion and the difficult decision of whether to stay or turn back.