Key facts
- Tens of thousands of unauthorized migrants entered Spain's exclave of Ceuta from Morocco.
- The Spanish army was mobilized to secure Ceuta's border after Civil Guard forces were overwhelmed.
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the migrant influx as an "attack, a violation of the territorial integrity of Spain."
- Spanish authorities stated approximately 50,000 people entered Ceuta illegally, with about half voluntarily returning to Morocco.
- Opposition parties accused Sánchez of inciting an "invasion" with his migration policies, particularly a scheme to grant legal status to over a million unauthorized migrants.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggested Spain could be shut out of the Schengen Area due to the crisis.
Spain has deployed military units to its North African exclave of Ceuta following the arrival of tens of thousands of unauthorized migrants from Morocco. The Spanish army was mobilized late on Thursday to secure the border after Civil Guard forces were overwhelmed.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who flew to Ceuta on Friday, described the situation as "an attack, a violation of the territorial integrity of Spain." He blamed criminal gangs for misinterpreting a recent Supreme Court ruling that modified immediate-return procedures for migrants intercepted at sea.
Spain's Interior Ministry reported that approximately 50,000 people entered Ceuta illegally in the past 24 hours, with about half having voluntarily returned to Morocco. Migrants were reportedly departing Ceuta at a rate of about 150 people per minute.
Opposition parties in Madrid have criticized Sánchez's government, linking the crisis to its policy of granting legal status to over a million unauthorized migrants. Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, accused Sánchez of inciting "an invasion," while Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the center-right People's Party cited "irresponsible decisions" on migration policy.
The Spanish government, through a foreign ministry spokesperson, retorted that the crisis was unrelated to its legalization scheme, emphasizing specific residency requirements and application deadlines. The government defends the legalization as necessary for long-term economic growth amid declining birth rates.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the images from Ceuta "striking" and suggested Spain could be excluded from the Schengen Area. In response, Spain summoned the Italian ambassador in Madrid. The Spanish foreign ministry maintained that Madrid advocates for efficient migration management respecting human rights and international law.