Hundreds of Ceuta residents staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday against the Spanish government’s plans to shelter migrants in local facilities and public sports centers, according to multiple Spanish outlets. The demonstration, initially conceived as a localized gathering, quickly swelled into a citywide rally that reflected growing anger over the central government’s handling of the migrant crisis in the Spanish exclave.
The protest was organized by local communities who say they are fed up with worsening living conditions following what they describe as a massive migrant invasion of Ceuta. Demonstrators directed sharp criticism at socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with many chanting insults and calling for the expulsion of thousands of migrants who remain in the city after the late July border incursion.
From Barracks to Streets: The Protest’s Evolution
The demonstration first began outside the Fiscer military barracks after reports emerged that the facility was being considered as a potential shelter for migrants. Local outlets detailed that the gathering initially focused on the barracks, but as more residents joined, it morphed into a larger march that snaked through Ceuta’s streets before ending at a local hotel.
According to the public broadcaster RTVE, the Fiscer barracks’ name did appear in a draft decree on managing the Ceuta crisis, but the military facility is not part of the final housing plans. The Spanish government published a new decree on Wednesday morning designating five Ceuta sports centers and several state-owned facilities as eligible locations to house migrants. Europapress reported that areas of the Fiscer barracks not currently in use by the Ministry of Defense are excluded from the decree.
Protesters Target Minister, Demand Accountability
At the hotel, protesters believed that Spanish Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres was inside. However, according to El Pueblo de Ceuta, Torres had not yet arrived in the exclave at the time of the protest. Sánchez had recently appointed Torres as head of a new unified task force to address the ongoing crisis.
Footage published by Ok Diario showed demonstrators chanting “Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta fights back,” calling Sánchez a “Son of a B***h,” and yelling “Invaders, expulsion.” Some protesters also called for the resignation of government authorities, exclaiming “Long live Ceuta.” Others demanded legal repercussions for Spanish government officials, whose handling of the crisis they consider disastrous for the city.
March Continues Through Affected Neighborhoods
The protesters reportedly departed the hotel and continued their march toward Loma Colmenar, one of the neighborhoods most affected by migrant violence and crime in the aftermath of the invasion. From there, they headed to the Sidi Embarek mosque, passing through several other locations along the way, according to El Faro de Ceuta.
Throughout the journey, protesters waved Spanish and Ceuta flags, expressing fierce rejection of the continued presence of thousands of illegal migrants in the city. The demonstration underscored the deep frustration among Ceuta’s residents who feel abandoned by the central government in Madrid.
The protest comes amid ongoing tensions over the migrant influx, which has strained local resources and sparked concerns about security and living conditions in the exclave. The Spanish government’s new decree enabling the use of sports centers and state-owned buildings for migrant housing has only added fuel to the fire, with residents vowing to continue their opposition.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/08/26/pedro-sanchez-son-of-a-ceuta-residents-protest-against-govts-invading-migrant-shelter-plans/