Spain’s prime minister has vowed to combat an “attack” on his country by illegal migrants following a sudden invasion of Ceuta, a Spanish territory in Morocco. At least 34 people have died during the chaotic events, according to Spanish authorities.
Initial reports indicated thousands of migrants overwhelmed the small northern African province, but officials later stated that tens of thousands had entered Ceuta. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as an “attack” on Spain and a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity,” emphasizing that Ceuta is a “Spanish city” requiring “our full reproach, our condemnation at the strongest possible level of rejection.”
The Ministry of the Interior reported expelling approximately 25,000 migrants back to Morocco while removing 150 per minute. Ceuta’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, claimed about 60,000 migrants had overrun the province and cited a death toll of at least 34.
Vivas labeled the crisis “absolutely unsustainable” and criticized Spain’s government response as “taken too late and insufficiently.” Despite official claims, social media videos show migrants continuing to enter Ceuta while military personnel observe from a distance.
Sánchez accused “human trafficking mafias” of exploiting a recent Spanish Supreme Court decision that permits migrants crossing by land to be expelled without due process. He warned that many young people face death—either in the ocean or at the border—due to deceptive tactics by these groups.
The U.S. Department of State condemned the illegal crossings, stating they were “the direct result of the Spanish Government’s deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe.” The agency also indicated it would consider actions to protect Americans from this threat.
A local workers’ association leader described a severe humanitarian crisis with thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, sleeping in parks and on sidewalks. Migrants reported swimming for up to four hours to reach Ceuta from Morocco.
