Spain rushes to deport migrants from African enclave Ceuta after 6,000 enter in record border breach

Fnideq, Morocco — Spain's prime minister vowed to "restore order" in the North African enclave of Ceuta on Tuesday after a record 6,000 migrants reached its beaches from Morocco, raising diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Rabat. With the authorities in the tiny peninsula overwhelmed, Spain moved quickly to send them back, with 2,700 returned to Morocco by midday, the government said.

"We will restore order in the city and in our borders as soon as possible," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, adding that he would visit Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's other north African enclave, later on Tuesday. Most crossed into Ceuta largely unimpeded by Moroccan border guards on Monday, but by Tuesday morning, Rabat had deployed reinforcements at the Fnideq border crossing who fired tear gas to disperse the crowds eyeing a rare opportunity to slip across, an AFP correspondent reported.