Burnham Calls Ceuta Migrant Surge Concerning

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the massive influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa as concerning. His government has already contacted Spanish authorities to gather more information about the situation and to offer support.

More than 49,000 people crossed illegally into Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday and Friday, according to estimates cited by Jesús Vivas, mayor of the city and head of the autonomous region. The developments have also raised concerns in other European countries about the security of the continent's external borders.

Burnham said: "It's a concerning situation, and I know people will see those scenes and want something to be done." He added that London was in communication with the Spanish government to provide support and to better understand the implications of the situation.

The United Kingdom has for several years been trying to curb illegal migration across the English Channel. In 2025, approximately 41,000 migrants arrived on the southern coast of England in small boats.

Burnham also said that the government was making progress, noting that the number of illegal border crossings was falling while the number of deportations was rising. At the same time, he acknowledged that more needed to be done.

(Reuters, bak)