The mass crossing of migrants into Spain’s small North African enclave has prompted EU anti-migrant rhetoric and calls to suspend the bloc’s border-free Schengen – despite fragile legal justifications. Ceuta and Melilla, on Africa’s north coast, are autonomous Spanish cities that often receive migrant arrivals, including a wave of over 60,000 swimmers from Morocco last week. Why is Ceuta not part of the Schengen Area? However, Spain’s autonomous cities are party to a unique set of Schengen rules. Those arriving in Ceuta or Melilla from within Schengen are not required to show identification, while those leaving face mandatory border controls.