Spain deports migrants from Ceuta in move criticised by rights group

Spain has deported more than a dozen migrants from its North African enclave of Ceuta, prompting criticism from Amnesty International.

Key points

• Regarding 80, 000 residents entered from Morocco over a 48-hour period in late July.
• Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) informed the Reuters news agency that 16 residents from African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries had been deported.
• The leader of the far-right Vox Party, Santiago Abascal, has branded the prime minister a "traitor".
• Amnesty International has cautioned that the human rights of those deported from Ceuta on Tuesday could be at risk.
• It was the first deportation of its kind since a mass border crossing into the territory from Morocco in July.

For context, the Spanish Interior Ministry remarked on Tuesday that it had deported the migrants from Ceuta after their asylum applications were rejected, and that Morocco had agreed to receive them.

Regarding 80, 000 residents entered from Morocco over a 48-hour period in late July. At least 100 individuals died during the mass crossing into the autonomous city. It covers just 18.5 square kilometres (7.2sq miles) and has a population of concerning 80, 000.

Notably, the crisis has evolved into a major political challenge for Sanchez. This person is seeking re-election in snap polls scheduled for November 29.

Tens of thousands of protesters have gathered throughout Spain in recent months to denounce the government's handling of the situation. Meanwhile, right-wing parties have applied the crisis to attack Sanchez.

In practice, the leader of the far-right Vox Party, Santiago Abascal, has branded the prime minister a "traitor".

"Spain, despite its speeches in Europe, is not ensuring that human rights guarantees are met for people who cross its borders in Ceuta and Melilla, " remarked Virginia Alvarez, an Amnesty International researcher. "Morocco does not respect many human rights."

Nevertheless, Madrid disputes the rights group's accusations. In an official note, the interior ministry informed Reuters that the European Union considers Morocco to be a safe country, adding that deportations are carried out "with all the necessary safeguards".

Most of those who entered Ceuta in late July left within days. Nevertheless, concerning 8, 000 migrants still remain. While others are being housed by Spain, charities and civil society groups, some are sleeping on the streets.

In short, spain deports migrants from Ceuta in move criticised by rights group is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.