Key facts
- Thousands of migrants entered Spain's Ceuta exclave, overwhelming border forces.
- Spanish intelligence had warned of the surge days before, linking it to Morocco's Throne Day.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the event an "attack" and a "violation of territorial integrity."
- Opposition parties criticized Sánchez's migration policies, accusing him of inciting an invasion.
- The crisis is linked by Spanish authorities to a Supreme Court ruling on immediate migrant returns.
- Italy suggested Spain could be excluded from the Schengen Area due to the situation.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is facing intense criticism from opposition parties following the arrival of tens of thousands of unauthorized migrants in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. The influx, which overwhelmed border forces and led to the mobilization of the Spanish army, has been characterized by Sánchez as an "attack" and a "violation of the territorial integrity of Spain."
Opposition leaders, including Santiago Abascal of the far-right Vox party and Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the center-right People's Party, have blamed Sánchez's migration policies, particularly the government's plan to grant legal status to over a million unauthorized migrants, for inciting the crisis. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Madrid region, accused Sánchez of using the situation to distract from corruption allegations.
However, a spokesperson for Spain's foreign ministry refuted these claims, stating the crisis was unrelated to the government's legalization scheme, as those who entered Ceuta would not be eligible. The scheme, intended to boost economic growth amid declining birth rates, has faced domestic opposition and criticism from figures like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Meloni's critical stance led to suggestions from Italy that Spain could be excluded from the Schengen Area. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares summoned the Italian ambassador in response, asserting Spain's commitment to managing migration efficiently and humanely.
Spanish authorities are also linking the surge to a recent Supreme Court ruling that modified the immediate-return procedure for migrants attempting to reach Ceuta and Melilla by sea. The court ruled that migrants intercepted in the water, rather than breaching a physical barrier, are entitled to a formal deportation process. Sánchez announced plans to deploy buoys to facilitate immediate returns.