Spain’s Prime Minister Denies Preadmittance in Ceuta Migrant Surge

Sun Sep 06 2026 00:45:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Pedro Sánchez insists the 72,000-strong influx to Ceuta was unexpected, sparking fierce parliamentary debate and public protests amid tensions with Morocco.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared that the sudden arrival of some 72,000 migrants in Ceuta was unforeseeable, challenging accusations that Spain had foreknowledge. The claim ignited heated discussions in Parliament and prompted massive street marches across Madrid and other cities. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo demanded Sánchez’s resignation, accusing the government of cover‑up, while Spain faces disapproval from European allies, notably Italy’s border restrictions. In the backdrop, Madrid’s diplomatic stance toward Morocco is being tightly calibrated, with the king slated to visit Ceuta and Melilla in forthcoming weeks.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has argued that no one "foresaw" the sudden influx of 72,000 migrants into the Portuguese exclave of Ceuta, as the government faces criticism over its leadership of the crisis.

During a fiery session in Madrid’s Congress on Thursday, Sánchez dismissed allegations that Madrid officials had been warned about rising sea crossings, insisting that the migration wave was unpredictable. He also denied evidence that Morocco orchestrated or encouraged the mass crossing, while criticizing the side‑by‑side cooperation between both countries during the incident.

The crises, which began with an unplanned Moroccan‑border crossing in late July, saw most migrants promptly returned to Morocco, though an estimated 5,000 souls—over a thousand children—remain on Ceuta’s beaches.

Opposition parties, led by the People's Party’s Alberto Núñez Feijóo, have accused Sánchez of lying and manipulating the narrative, calling for his resignation. The politicised debate has extended to the European stage, as Italy tightened immigration controls in response to the spillover of Casue‑driven migrants.

Public demonstrations on Ceuta Day in Madrid and other cities, the size of which matched opposition pressure, also reflected broader discontent with how the Spanish government navigated the crisis. The protests included anti‑government chants interspersed with chants for the support of Ceuta’s residents.

The debate highlighted another key issue: Spain’s frayed bilateral relationship with Morocco. Sánchez has been careful to avoid blame while denouncing Morocco’s sovereignty claims over Ceuta and Melilla. He expressed that the city’s people “are Spain on Europe’s border.”

King Felipe VI is expected to visit Ceuta and Melilla in the coming weeks in a symbolic show of support for the enclaves, the Spanish government says. Alongside the return of 90% of migrants within 72 hours, the authorities praised the local police’s humanitarian stance in the city when the spillover happened.

Sánchez underscored the role of “false rumours on social media” and “international far‑right movements” in amplifying the crisis, rather than state‑level collusion. He remained resolute that any cooperation with Morocco was limited to normal border‑return procedures and that Morocco’s statements had no bearing on the unfolding events.