Ceuta migrants: Germany tells Morocco to take them back

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz demanded Friday that Morocco “take back illegal migrants immediately” after tens of thousands of people crossed into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta in recent days.

Merz said Germany welcomed what he described as Spain's intention not to allow the migrants onto the European continent. He said protecting the European Union's external borders was crucial to combating irregular migration and that Germany was in contact with the Spanish government.

“Spain wants to -- and must -- bring the situation in Ceuta under control as quickly as possible,” Merz said.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Germany would keep using flexible border checks with other EU states and would extend the option for internal border controls beyond September.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he had been in touch with his Spanish and Moroccan counterparts. He said he welcomed “Morocco's willingness to continue working closely with Spain” to secure the shared border and readmit migrants from Ceuta as quickly as possible.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel claimed on X that “Ceuta was left in ruins overnight” and argued that Germany was likely the destination for most of the migrants. She called for German borders to be secured and said the Schengen Area should be suspended if necessary.