500-Meter Floating Security Barrier in the Mediterranean to Curb Illegal Crossings Into Its North African Territory of Ceuta

Spain has installed a 500-meter floating security barrier in the Mediterranean to curb illegal crossings into its North African territory of Ceuta. The barrier, now in place, rises 70 centimeters above the sea and reaches one meter below the surface, a design meant to stop people from swimming across. The move follows a deadly surge in migration at Ceuta’s border.

Sixty-seven migrants died trying to swim from Morocco’s coast to the enclave, and tens of thousands gathered along the frontier. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the army had been deployed to the region. After days of large-scale migration, some 70,000 migrants who had reached the border were returned to Morocco. With the barrier installed, calm has returned to the border, and military patrols continue around the clock.