Surge in Asylum Requests: Over 1,000 Moroccans Seek Protection in Spanish Enclave Melilla

A thousand Moroccans stranded in Melilla since the closure of the border have applied for asylum between January and August 2021, according to the Spanish authorities who say they have received a total of 2,225 asylum applications from migrants of various nationalities during this period.
These figures were provided by the Secretary of State for Relations with the Courts and Constitutional Affairs, in response to questions from PP senators from Melilla. The official does not give the reasons justifying this strong demand for international protection, specifying that these are confidential data.
To read: Surge in Moroccan Asylum Seekers Prompts Spain to Revamp Asylum Process
The asylum seekers are migrants who want to take advantage of the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2021 which ordered their free movement on Spanish territory, including those who have filed their applications in Ceuta or Melilla, reports El Faro de Melilla.
Among these asylum seekers, Moroccans are in the lead with 1,001 applications, followed by Tunisians (531), Sudanese (182), Egyptians (142) and Malians (135). There are also asylum applications from Algerian (82), Guinean (25), Burkinabe (23), Ivorian (19), Chadian (18), Syrian (14), Cameroonian (13), Senegalese (9), Mauritanian (5) citizens, etc.
Related Articles
-
Marhaba Operation: Moroccan Exodus from Europe Slows as Key Ferry Route Sees 20% Drop
22 June 2025
-
Madrid Police Officer Suspended After Fatal Chokehold: Alcohol Suspected in 15-Minute Neck Restraint Death
22 June 2025
-
Migrant Trafficking Ring Busted: Spanish Police Uncover €2.5 Million Smuggling Operation in Gibraltar Strait
21 June 2025
-
Summer Highway Heists: Mossos Warn of Thieves’ Diversion Tactics Targeting Moroccan Travelers
21 June 2025
-
Road Trip Danger: Moroccan Travelers Face Theft Epidemic on Spanish Highways
20 June 2025