CEUTA, Spain (AP) 鈥� When he heard the border had been breached, Abdulah Buji jumped on his motorbike and raced from his home in northern Morocco toward Ceuta, of people trying to swim into the tiny Spanish territory in North Africa.
Like many of his fellow countrymen, Buji was inspired by the thought that this collective crossing could somehow unlock his dream of reaching Spain and starting a new life in Europe.
鈥淪pain gives you the chance to make your future, not like Morocco,鈥� said Buji, a 21-year-old who is studying to be a teacher. 鈥淚 am a talented boy. I just want a chance.鈥�
But his elation at setting foot on Spanish soil was quickly followed by the disheartening realization that he was still far from his ultimate goal. Mainland Europe rested across the Mediterranean, and he and the new arrivals were unwanted. Spanish authorities ordered everyone to turn around and go back or face eventual expulsion.
Buji said he almost joined more than 50 people who died trying to reach Ceuta while swimming around a border fence. He made it across, but he lost his belongings and money in the crossing. When he realized that he would likely face legal limbo and detention, he turned around and headed back.
鈥淚鈥檝e spent perhaps 14 years studying, but there鈥檚 nothing at home, and I鈥檇 have to work 12-hour shifts for a meager wage,鈥� Buji told The Associated Press. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I came here, but I haven鈥檛 found any opportunities here either, so I have to go back.鈥�
A surge in migrants created a humanitarian crisis
Of the between Thursday and Friday morning, some 45,000 had returned to Moroccan territory within hours after many spent the night on the streets of Ceuta amid startled locals and armed Spanish police and soldiers.
The massive influx of people, which totaled 70% of Ceuta鈥檚 resident population, sparked calls by local Spanish authorities for police and the army to establish order. Locals were concerned by the thousands of mostly young men aimlessly walking the streets.
Ceuta鈥檚 residents recalled a similar but smaller migration crisis in 2021, when the Moroccan government and let several thousand people from Morocco and sub-Saharan countries into Ceuta over two days. The city faced a much larger humanitarian crisis this time.
People flee out of despair and wanting to help their families
As the first reports and videos of migrants reaching Ceuta spread on social media, more people headed north in hopes of reaching European Union territory. Train stations in Morocco鈥檚 capital, Rabat, and in the country鈥檚 largest city, Casablanca, were crowded with people trying to travel to the border with Ceuta. Local media showed police officers preventing some of them from boarding trains and buses.
It isn鈥檛 clear what triggered the influx, but social media was awash with posts encouraging Moroccans to try to enter Ceuta days before it began, said Myriam Cherti, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford鈥檚 Centre on Migration, Policy and Society. The posts included practical information on how to cross the border and what migrants should say to increase their chances of being allowed to stay.
Cherti said some of the migrants she interviewed over the past year had lost count of the number of times they had tried to cross the border.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e doing it out of despair, they鈥檙e doing it because they鈥檝e tried other ways to build a life and failed, they鈥檙e doing it because they feel the obligation that they want to help their families and support them,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 possible if they make it to Spain and not necessarily possible if they stay鈥� in Morocco.
Ahmed Karim, 33, was among those who managed to cross into Ceuta. He doesn’t have work and says the problem is compounded for many Moroccans due to the difficulty in traveling outside the country.
He said many Moroccans want to go to Europe or America, 鈥渂ut they don鈥檛 have the opportunity.鈥�
Searching for loved ones in the chaos
Other people who crossed, however, were not coming to stay; they were searching for lost loved ones and hoping they were not among the dead.
Ikrra Khai, 33, is one of thousands of Moroccan women who regularly get temporary job permits to work on Spanish farms at harvest time.
On Friday she was in Ceuta looking for the brother of a good friend.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if he is dead or alive,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have his residency card. But I don鈥檛 know where he is. I鈥檓 searching.鈥�
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Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain. Danica Kirka in London and Akram Oubachir in Fnideq, Morocco, contributed.
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