African migrants climbing fences and swimming into Europe surges | World | News
Number of migrants who climbed fences or swam to reach the Spanish outpost North Africa According to one report, there was an increase of more than 300%. Figures published by the Spanish government and reported in local media show that 2,101 people arrived Ceuta Between January 1st and April 30th.
This figure is 329% higher than the 489 people who entered the Spanish port city in the same period last year. El Faro de Ceuta. Ceuta is reportedly the main pressure point for irregular migration Europe In 2026. immigrants they reportedly climb border fences or swim towards the area from Moroccan waters.
While the number of people coming to Ceuta is increasing, irregular migration in general Spain dropped significantly.
A total of 7,923 people arrived in Spain between January and April this year; This number decreased by 43.2% compared to the same period in 2025.
Meanwhile, in transit to Britain English Channel So far this year, the number of immigrants remains lower than in the previous two years.
The latest available figures show there have been 7,380 arrivals so far this year, 36% below this point in 2025 and 16% below that level in 2024.
Figures show more than 200,000 migrants have reached the UK after crossing the Channel since 2018.
The 200,013 figure was calculated using the Government’s official statistics for 2018-2025 and provisional figures recorded so far this year.
Just over a third of the total, 72,094 (36%), have arrived since Labor came to power in July 2024, according to the Press Association’s analysis of Government data.
Home Office figures published on Saturday confirmed 70 people arrived in Kent on a boat last Friday (8 May).
The remaining 127,919 people (64%) made the journey under Conservative governments of four Conservative prime ministers (Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak).
There is no official record of deaths in the canal, but 2024 is likely to be the deadliest year, with 50 deaths recorded by the French coastguard.
According to reports from French and British authorities, at least 17 people have died trying to make this journey in 2025.
The first migrant known to have drowned while trying to cross the border was 31-year-old Iranian Mitra Mehrad in August 2019.
