Morocco Blocks Return of Migrants at Spanish Border, Citing COVID-19 Concerns

Many Moroccan migrants have tried to illegally enter Spain this summer via the beaches of Tarajal and Benzu. But these areas are heavily patrolled by the Civil Guard and the National Police, who usually manage to apprehend these migrants. They are supposed to be immediately returned to Morocco, but according to sources from the Government Delegation, "Morocco systematically rejects its nationals on the grounds, they say, of the health crisis related to Covid-19."

The Moroccan authorities argue that they have no information on the health status of these migrants, whether they are vaccinated or not or if they have already contracted the disease. This is why the Moroccan police refuse to let them enter the kingdom, reports Ceuta Actualidad.

Since Friday, September 30, Morocco has lifted health restrictions for air links. At Tarajal, some residents of Ceuta who regularly cross the border say that "Morocco no longer requires a vaccination passport or PCR test," while other travelers claim to have provided health documents before entering the kingdom. For its part, the Government Delegation claims not to be aware of this new measure by the Moroccan authorities.

Since the migration crisis of May 2021, "Morocco has only accepted the return of 62 migrants," assure sources from the Delegation in Ceuta.