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May 19, 2021

Humanitarian, Diplomatic Crisis Between Spain and Morocco Deepens as Spain Expulses 1000s from Ceuta
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez traveled today to the Spanish
enclave of Ceuta on the northern tip of Morocco, after 8,000 refugees
entered the area earlier this week. Spain has sent troops to the
enclave's border and has already returned thousands of people, but
groups say officials may be expelling people that legally should be
processed as asylum seekers, including children, sick people or anyone
who is not a Moroccan national. Many say Morocco recently loosened
immigration controls in retaliation for Spain giving Brahim Ghali, the
leader of the Polisario Front, treatment for COVID-19. The Polisario
movement is fighting to establish an independent state in Western
Sahara, which was colonized by Spain in the 19th century and annexed by
Morocco in 1975.


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