Spain Apologises to Ceuta Over Migrant Crisis, Unveils Immigration Reform

Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles apologised in parliament on Monday to the people of Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the northern tip of Africa, following a mass migration event on July 30-31 in which more than 72,000 people crossed from Morocco. Over 100 people died during the crossing. Most returned to Morocco within hours, but thousands remain in Ceuta, many of them children sleeping on beaches and streets in the city of 84,000 residents. The Spanish government declared a national security situation, with minister Ángel Víctor Torres appointed to coordinate the response. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska separately announced a package of immigration law reforms, with administrative detention for undocumented migrants to be limited to three days. The crisis represents the largest single migration event in recent European history and has prompted intense debate within Spain about immigration policy, border security with Morocco, and the humanitarian responsibilities of EU member states.