- The National Police detects an increase in asylum requests in Ceuta from people claiming persecution in Morocco due to their sexual orientation.
- Almost 1,200 international protection requests have already been formalized among those who remain in the city after the mass entry at the end of July.
- The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, reminds that those who request it must provide a “reasonable proof” of what they claim.
Asylum requests based on sexual orientation in Ceuta are on the rise. According to sources from the National Police cited by EFE on October 17, 2026, more and more migrant people who remain in the autonomous city after the mass entry at the end of July are seeking international protection claiming that in Morocco they are persecuted for being LGTBI.
What is happening with asylum requests in Ceuta?
International protection requests in Ceuta have grown and changed in reason. According to the National Police, almost 1,200 requests have already been formalized among those who have remained in the city since the mass entry at the end of July.
So far, those same police sources explain, most of those requesting asylum claimed economic reasons, which usually ended with the rejection of the request.
Why is sexual orientation claimed?
More and more applicants explain that they suffer persecution in Morocco due to their sexual orientation. Some people claim to belong to the LGTBI community and fear reprisals if they return to their country.
The Police also points out that some women requesting international protection report having suffered rapes by family members. These are two distinct realities that share a common background: the violence they are fleeing from.
The sources do not specify how many of those almost 1,200 requests are specifically based on sexual orientation, so that figure corresponds to the total number of requests, not just the LGTBI ones.
Who decides if asylum is granted?
The resolutions correspond to the Office of Asylum and Refuge (OAR) and the administrative authorities, with possible subsequent judicial review. This has been explained by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The minister has emphasized that applicants must provide a “reasonable proof” of the circumstances they claim. In the case of sexual orientation, this requirement is especially delicate: it requires demonstrating something that, in the country of origin, many people have had to hide their whole life to survive.
A border that is also LGTBI
The news highlights a little visible reality: the southern border of Spain is also a border for many LGTBI people who cannot live freely in their country.
That sexual orientation appears more and more as a reason for asylum forces us to pay close attention to how these requests are evaluated, and to remember that behind each file there is a person who is fleeing from fear.
Frequently asked questions
Can you apply for asylum in Spain for being LGTBI?
Yes. Applicants in Ceuta are claiming persecution in Morocco due to their sexual orientation as a reason for international protection.
How many asylum requests are there in Ceuta?
According to the National Police, almost 1,200 international protection requests have been formalized among those who remain in Ceuta after the mass entry at the end of July.
Who resolves the requests?
The Office of Asylum and Refuge and the administrative authorities, with possible subsequent judicial review, according to the Minister of the Interior.
What needs to be demonstrated?
According to Grande-Marlaska, a “reasonable proof” of the circumstances being claimed.
