‘We won’t go back’: Young Moroccan migrants in Ceuta refuse to abandon their European dream

It’s 2am local time and a heavy silence hangs over the Tarajal industrial zone in Ceuta. The darkness is pierced by the flashing lights of police cars while waves crash against the shores of this Spanish enclave in North Africa, where many have attempted to cross into Europe but failed. Not far from the beach, Moroccan minors sleep as they await a new day, not knowing what it will bring. The open metal gates of the industrial zone give way to a space that, from the outside, looks like an auto repair shop. Hundreds of migrants gather here, including many minors left to fend for themselves. Some sleep on mattresses, others lie directly on the floor, and there are only a few blankets – which they take turns sharing – to protect them from the cold of the night or the heat of the day. ‘In search of a better future’ The figures reveal the scale of the crisis. The Spanish government estimates that around 2,500 minors remain on the streets of Ceuta following the wave of mass arrivals on July 30-31, when more than 70,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco. The vast majority voluntarily chose to return home in the following days. But among those who remain in Ceuta, nearly 4,000 are mi...