Ceuta's unaccompanied minors face endless police rejections and overcrowded shelters

Unaccompanied children in Ceuta spend their days looping between the police headquarters and temporary shelters, only to be turned away each time due to a lack of available beds. A police officer shouted that they could not be registered without a place to house them, and an interpreter added that no facilities existed yet. While the local executive has started placing a few youths in improvised homes, the majority continue to live in makeshift camps or with supportive neighbors.

Ceuta’s social services are stretched beyond capacity, with only a few official spots for minors. The situation has sparked a political battle, with the city mayor demanding returns to Morocco and the national government considering transfers to the peninsula. Meanwhile, NGOs like the Red Cross distribute food and orange wristbands to help identify the children in need.