APTOPIX Spain Ceuta

The girl made it through the waves to Spanish territory. Her little brother drowned in the Mediterranean. Their mother disappeared in the chaos when tens of thousands of people surged through the breakwater to leave Morocco behind. The tragic story of a 17-year-old from Tangier is representative of the plight of many of the more than 800 minors who four days after the collective push by migrants into Ceuta face an uncertain future. Some 860 minors remain in Ceuta while most of the 60,000 people who came across last week have gone back.

Social media rumors sparked a migration surge from Morocco to Spain's territory of Ceuta. Posts on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok convinced thousands of migrants that the border was open. Within days, an estimated 72,000 people reached Ceuta, the largest surge in years. Most have since returned to Morocco. Many migrants also misunderstood Spain's immigration rules, thinking they could stay. Both Moroccan and Spanish authorities were unprepared. They blamed misinformation and smuggling networks. Economic struggles in Morocco continue to drive young people to seek opportunities abroad.