The number of migrants climbing fences or swimming to a Spanish outpost in North Africa has surged by more than 300%, a report suggests. Figures issued by the Spanish government reported by local press show 2,101 people arrived in Ceuta between January 1 and April 30.
This is 329% higher than the 489 who entered the Spanish port city during the same period last year, according to El Faro de Ceuta. It reports Ceuta as a main pressure point for irregular migration to Europe in 2026. Migrants are reportedly scaling border fences or swimming to the enclave from Moroccan waters.
While arrivals surged in Ceuta, irregular migration overall to Spain has dropped significantly.
In total, 7,923 people arrived in Spain during January to April this year, down 43.2% on the same period in 2025.
Meanwhile in Britain crossings of the English Channel by migrants so far this year are tracking at a lower level than the previous two years.
The latest available figures show there have been 7,380 arrivals so far this year, 36% down on this point in 2025 and 16% below this stage in 2024.
Over 200,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel since 2018, figures show.
The 200,013 figure is calculated using the Government’s official statistics for 2018 to 2025 and provisional figures recorded so far this year.
Just over a third of the total, 72,094 (36%), have arrived since Labour swept to power in July 2024, according to Press Association analysis of Government data.
Home Office figures published on Saturday confirm 70 people arrived in Kent on one boat last Friday (May 8).
The remaining 127,919 (64%) made the journey under Conservative governments that spanned four Tory prime ministers: Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
There is no official record of fatalities in the Channel, but 2024 is likely to have been the deadliest year, with 50 deaths recorded by the French coastguard.
At least 17 people died while attempting the journey in 2025, according to reports by French and UK authorities.
The first migrant known to have drowned while attempting the crossing was a 31-year-old Iranian woman, Mitra Mehrad, in August 2019.
