Ceuta Sees Spike In Sexual Assaults Since Migrant Influx

The Spanish exclave of Ceuta has seen a surge in sexual assaults and violent robberies since more than 70,000 African migrants stormed its borders within a matter of days earlier this summer.

Spanish prosecutors said the territory, which sits on the African continent, has experienced 23 sexual assaults, including nine against children, since the border crush in late July. In a recent interview, Ceuta’s Chief Prosecutor Silvia Rojas said it amounts to “almost one case [of sexual assault] per day.”

“There’s been a spike in crime, including sexual assaults and violent robberies,” Rojas said.

“There has been an exponential increase in these crimes since the massive influx of people. There have been many cases of sexual assault, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office is especially concerned about the victims,” Rojas said.

Rojas said some of the victims were migrant children whose irregular status made them particularly vulnerable.

“Above all, there are underage victims, victims who are particularly vulnerable precisely because of their irregular status in this territory,” Rojas said. “Furthermore, many people do not file a report, either out of fear or because of their current situation in Ceuta.”

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office has emphasized the need to adopt protective measures for the victims, ranging from restraining orders or no-contact orders to much more serious measures, such as pretrial detention,” she said.

Thousands of migrants, mainly young men from Morocco, stormed Ceuta’s beaches by climbing border fences and swimming. Failing to secure access to mainland Spain, many migrants have since returned home.

Roughly 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, including 1,200 minors, CBS News reported, citing a statement from Sánchez.

Many of the remaining migrants appear to be causing havoc.

Thousands of Spaniards staged protests across the country Wednesday, demanding Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez address the ongoing chaos in Ceuta, according to The Associated Press.

The border crush came after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that Spanish authorities cannot immediately deport migrants entering by sea.

Earlier this year, Sánchez launched a program for more than one million migrants to receive amnesty as a way to counteract the world’s “MAGA-style leaders,” according to The New York Times.

Spain received more than double the number of applications it had initially expected.