Amnesty International on September 30 published a report based on interviews with more than 65 migrants who reached Ceuta from Morocco since late July, alleging that members of Spain's Armed Forces, National Police, and Civil Guard committed torture and cruel, inhumane treatment. The human rights group also documented corroborating testimony from the Border Resistance collective.

What does Amnesty allege?

The 17-page report, built on a field visit between September 10 and 15, says the rights group reviewed videos showing migrants lying on the ground being struck with batons and kicked, along with medical reports confirming fractures and head trauma.

"Some cases, due to their severity, may constitute torture," Amnesty said.

The group said it also witnessed soldiers approach a group of people sitting on a public bench near the city center, ask if they were "from here," and order them to move on. When questioned, the security forces replied, "We have orders not to make you feel comfortable."

Amnesty shared the findings with the presidents of the Government of Spain and the Government of Ceuta and called for an urgent humanitarian plan with specialized care for women, children, and people at risk. Under European regulations in force since mid-June, Spain must carry out triage on all arrivals to identify asylum seekers, health and safety needs, and survivors of torture or other degrading treatment, the organization said.

What is the Spanish government's response?

In an email, Spain's Ministry of Defense told InfoMigrants that operational command has been instructed to investigate and determine possible individual responsibilities to uphold the integrity and reputation of the Armed Forces.

The Interior Ministry has not yet commented on the specific allegations.

How big is Ceuta's reception operation?

A government report released on September 29 outlines the scale of the response:

• About 2,493 minors are now under Ceuta's protection system
• A further 1,200 reception places are to be prepared
• Approximately 4,100 military personnel have been deployed
• 8,243 returns have been recorded: 7,794 described as voluntary and 449 as expulsions

The mass arrival of an estimated 70,000 people in July sparked a humanitarian crisis that has tested Spain's liberal migration framework.

Are journalists and NGOs also targeted?

Amnesty cited accounts from local organizations who said security forces obstructed their work even when distributing sanitary pads and other hygiene products to women. Luna Blanca, a group that provides hot meals to migrants, also reported insults and harassment while carrying out its work.

How is the public mood shifting?

Monitoring by Spain's government-run Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia, OBERAXE, recorded 101,025 instances of hate speech and discriminatory narratives in August, following the July crossing. About 39 percent of analyzed content related to the Ceuta border. Hate messages on social media rose by 76 percent in the same period.

The online hostility is mirrored in the rhetoric of some far-right members of parliament. José María Figaredo, the Vox party's secretary general in Congress, publicly said migrants who entered Ceuta irregularly should be "hunted down one by one."

What happens next?

Amnesty has asked the Spanish government for an urgent plan covering adequate humanitarian aid, dignified reception, and specialized care. The Defense Ministry has opened an internal investigation. Spain, an outlier in the EU for advocating regularization of undocumented migrants, now faces scrutiny from rights groups, opposition politicians, and the European Commission over how it handles triage, returns, and protection for more than 2,400 children currently in Ceuta's care.