London, (Zahid Anwar Mirza) – UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has rejected calls for Britain to adopt Spain’s policy of immediately returning irregular migrants arriving in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, arguing that the situation in the English Channel is fundamentally different and far more complex.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Mahmood said the circumstances surrounding Ceuta are shaped by its unique geography and longstanding bilateral arrangements between Spain and Morocco. By contrast, irregular crossings into the United Kingdom involve organised people-smuggling networks operating across the English Channel, making enforcement significantly more challenging.

She explained that the Channel crossings require coordination between British and French authorities and involve maritime jurisdictions, unlike the land border separating Ceuta from Morocco.

According to the report, more than 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta over the past two days, prompting renewed debate over migration management and border security in Europe.

Mahmood stressed that the UK must pursue policies tailored to its own border environment rather than attempting to replicate measures designed for different geographical and legal circumstances.