The Port Authority president claims he learned of the transfer through the media, while Puente replies that the Ceuta government knew about it.

On September 18, a dispute emerged regarding the coordination of migrant transfers in Ceuta. Juan Manuel Doncel, president of the Port Authority of Ceuta, stated he was not informed of the relocation of migrants to port facilities and learned of the operation through media reports. In response, Minister of Transport Óscar Puente asserted that the Ceuta government was aware of the plans.

This administrative friction coincides with broader political tensions surrounding migration in the autonomous city. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Partido Popular, has criticized the government's handling of the situation, calling for the return of migrants and advocating for a new security plan. Official government estimates indicate that approximately 10,000 irregular migrants remain in Ceuta, with several thousand still residing outside of established housing resources.