What to know about the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as migrant arrivals from Morocco spike

MADRID (AP) — Thousands of migrants have streamed into the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa from Morocco, prompting local officials to call for help from Spain's national government in Madrid to restore the border.

Videos and images from the frontier showed crowds of people, mainly Moroccans, walking around the breakwaters at an urban beach near a border checkpoint with Morocco onto local roads. The majority looked to be young men, though there were also families with women and children.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said it would guarantee its citizens' safety and border integrity, but that the government could not declare a national emergency over migration concerns.

The escalation at the frontier comes after a surge in migrants attempting to reach the small exclave, mainly by swimming, a day before. It was not immediately clear what prompted so many migrants to cross to Ceuta.

Here's what to know.

Ceuta and the larger Spanish territory of Melilla that is some 400 kilometers (250 miles) further south, are located on the northern shores of the Mediterranean coast at the tip of Africa. Both autonomous cities belong to Spain and share the European Union's only land borders with Africa.

In Spanish possession since 1580, Ceuta is home to a mixed population of Christians and Muslims, and Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers who live in relative harmony.

Morocco does not officially recognize Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territory, and often refers to them as occupied lands.

The city of 85,000 has been a flashpoint in major diplomatic crises in recent memory between Madrid and Rabat.

In May 2021, the Moroccan government dropped its border controls and let some 8,000 people from Morocco and sub-Saharan countries pour into Ceuta in just two days.

The move was broadly interpreted as retaliation from Morocco for Spain’s decision to allow a pro-independence leader from the disputed Western Sahara region to be treated for COVID-19 at a Spanish hospital.

Tensions were defused and the border restored only after Spain’s prime minister shifted Spain’s long-standing position on Western Sahara, and met with Moroccan King Mohammed VI the following year.

Spain is a main point of arrival into Europe for migrants seeking better economic opportunities or an escape from violence in their home countries.

Ceuta and its sister city Melilla are heavily fortified, as the territories are seen as a destination for those trying to reach Spain from Morocco and other parts of Africa.

Many migrants who reach Ceuta or Melilla are immediately turned back, while others held in migrant shelters are processed and can apply for asylum in Spain.

To reach Ceuta, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Castillejos, covering about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

Still, migrant arrivals to Ceuta and Melilla are generally much lower than those reaching Spain through the Canary and Balearic Islands.

Spain's overall immigrant population has grown considerably in recent decades, with around 10 million people in the country of 50 million having been born elsewhere.

Many are from Colombia, Venezuela and Morocco, and work in key sectors of the Spanish economy, including agriculture, tourism and the service sector.

Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

NEW YORK (AP) — A social media post showing stars Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese betting $400 on the outcome of a game between their teams “missed the mark,” the WNBA said Thursday.

The players won't be punished for the bet, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

The league posted the initial video from All-Star Weekend, days before Bueckers’ Dallas Wings and Reese’s Atlanta Dream were set to play Wednesday night. The clip featured Bueckers and Reese placing what appeared to be a personal wager on the game. It was presented with the caption, “We did?” with a laughing emoji followed by, “Paige Bueckers on the bet she made with Angel Reese at All-Star Weekend on tonight’s matchup.”

The WNBA moved quickly to delete the message, but not before it was shared on social media.

“While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted, WNBA players are well aware of the league’s policies prohibiting betting on WNBA games and receive training every year reinforcing those policies,” a league spokesperson said Thursday. “We recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly after it was published, and addressed the matter internally.

“We will also use this as an opportunity to reemphasize with the players involved that conversations about wagering on WNBA games, even when intended as a joke, can have negative consequences.”

The Wings and the Dream both deferred to the league statement when asked for comment.

The league’s collective bargaining agreement states that any kind of wagering is strictly prohibited and that players can be fined, suspended or even disqualified from the WNBA at the sole discretion of the commissioner.

The Dream rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Wings 82-81 on Wednesday, with Reese notching 22 points and 12 rebounds and Bueckers finishing with 16 points and six assists.

WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts to scoring with teammate Rhyne Howard (10) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers questions a call during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Atlanta Dream in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks to media at a news conference before a WNBA All-Star basketball game between Team Coop and Team Spoon in Chicago, Saturday, July 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, center, drives against Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)