Spain's Sanchez faces mounting pressure after Ceuta migrant surge

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Friday that the government had restored order in Ceuta after an unprecedented influx of migrants from Morocco. By Saturday, the army was deployed and a 500-meter floating barrier was installed along the border. The government declared the situation under control, while Sánchez wrote to EU counterparts accusing some of them of "attacking Spain."

The crossing, which saw almost 60,000 people enter Ceuta in a few days and resulted in at least 67 deaths, drew sharp reactions abroad. U.S. President Donald Trump called it a "catastrophe" and an "invasion," and the U.S. State Department linked the crisis to Spain's migration policies. Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni said the episode highlighted the "threat" of irregular migration and temporarily reinstated border checks for travelers from Spain.

In Spain, right-wing parties seized on the event. VOX demanded the border be militarised and all migrants, including minors, be deported, while the centre-right Partido Popular called for a national emergency and army mobilisation.

"I think that after almost 48 hours since the beginning of the crisis in Ceuta, we can safely say that this was a manufactured crisis," said Riccardo Fabiani, Project Director for North Africa at the International Crisis Group.

Moroccan authorities denied involvement. Ambassador Karima Benyaich told the Associated Press that the situation unfolded against Morocco's wishes and that the country prioritises "legal, orderly and safe migration for all."

Analysts noted that a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling easing deportation procedures for migrants who swim into Ceuta may have encouraged the crossing. Some migrants reported seeing messages on social media suggesting the border was easier to breach.

The incident also revived long-standing tensions over Spain’s control of the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco does not recognise as Spanish territory. Relations have been strained by Spain’s stance on the Western Sahara conflict and recent diplomatic visits to Algeria.

European leaders responded collectively. Meloni co-authored a letter signed by 22 EU heads of state calling for an emergency meeting on the border crisis, and Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen warned that the EU might consider suspending Schengen cooperation with Spain.

Sanchez, who has defended regulated migration and highlighted its economic benefits, now faces intensified scrutiny from both domestic opposition and European partners as he seeks to manage the fallout.