In the southern Spanish port of Cadiz, a migrant center in a working-class neighborhood is full to capacity. As political leaders across the European Union debate how to treat a new surge of migrants reaching Spain, Italy, and Greece, the men in the center say they have few regrets about making the journey in search of a better life. Even if it meant, for some of them, severe injuries still awaiting a cure. Al Goodman reports.

At this migrant center run by Roman Catholic charities in southern Spain, the men like to watch the football news. It may help them forget, for a while, their arduous journeys from sub-Saharan Africa all the way to Spain. They tell stories about months of travel, from one country to another, trying to reach Europe. This man says he left Sierra Leone after his mother died, and was later captured by bandits in Mali.

AMADUWURIE JALLOH MIGRANT FROM SIERRA LEONE "They lock you up. Ask you for money. If not give the money, they tie you, they beat you. Call your family. 'We are going to kill you'."

But he escaped after a month, and finally left Morocco with others in a row boat that was soon sinking. A Spanish ship came to the rescue.

AMADUWURIE JALLOH MIGRANT FROM SIERRA LEONE "We are swimming, no way to survival. The Red Cross came and save our life."

The migrant center is in the southern port of Cadiz, where Spain approved its first democratic Constitution two centuries ago. As thousands of Africans arrive now on Europe's coasts, the continent's democracies bicker over whether to accept them.

AL GOODMAN CADIZ, SPAIN "All of the men here have hard stories about coming from Africa to Europe. But they may be among the lucky ones. Most of them have friends who died along the way."

Like this man from Cameroon, who saw a friend fall to his death while trying to climb a fence separating northern Morocco from the Spanish city of Ceuta. He also fell, badly injuring his elbow, which awaits surgery.

TSATIA AKAFACK MARTIAL MIGRANT FROM CAMEROON "To search for a better life you sometimes have to suffer. That's how life is. We are responsible for our destiny."

This man was injured in a sea crossing, while getting back into his boat, when the propeller cut his leg.

JEROME ABDOUMI GUESSANT MIGRANT FROM COTE D'IVOIRE "I was pushing a woman who had fallen into the water, back into the boat. She made it ok. But the propeller cut me twice."

Many say they want to go to France and northern Europe, for any available job. But he isn't sure what's next, except to send money back for his little sister's education.

AMADUWURIE JALLOH MIGRANT FROM SIERRA LEONE "It's the right thing. That I come, is the right decision I take. It's the best decision for me."

But Europe isn't sure it's best for the Continent. Al Goodman, CGTN, Cadiz , Spain.