Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the mass crossing of migrants into Ceuta as a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.” This stark admission comes as new information reveals the Spanish government had advance warning of the unprecedented migrant surge. Intelligence alerts were issued over several days, including in the hours immediately before tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco, yet Madrid denied any prior knowledge.
A Breach of Sovereignty
Intelligence services consulted by The Objective media had specifically warned that King Mohammed VI was likely to make a “gesture of magnanimity” at the border. This move was expected to coincide with Morocco’s Throne Day celebrations, directly impacting Spain's national borders. The leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijoo, had already raised concerns about the situation during his appearance in Ceuta, stating the Spanish government had been aware of it since last Monday.
These warnings were followed by concrete reports of migrants swimming across from Fnideq, known as Castillejos in Spanish. Buses were also observed carrying people from different parts of Morocco towards the border, signaling an organized movement. Over the course of approximately ten days, nearly 1,000 people swam into Ceuta, a clear precursor to the larger crisis.
Intelligence officials reportedly viewed this initial influx as a test by Moroccan authorities. This critical assessment was passed directly to the government, highlighting the deliberate nature of the border pressure. Despite these clear indicators, the Interior Ministry insisted hours later that cooperation with Morocco was “exemplary, loyal and permanent,” a claim that clashes with the reality on the ground.
Officers deployed in the area reported that the Moroccan gendarmerie stood “with their arms folded” while migrants attempted the crossing. This inaction occurred both along the breakwater and on the access road to the border crossing, where other people climbed over fences and roofs. Such a lack of control directly undermines Spain's ability to secure its own frontiers.
The Demographic Deluge
In the end, between 60,000 and 75,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, marking the largest migration crisis in the autonomous city’s history. This uncontrolled influx represents a profound demographic transformation for the small exclave. According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, about 53,000 people had returned to Morocco in the days that followed, leaving thousands still within Spanish territory.
The Civil Guard and National Police stationed at the Tarajal border crossing were unable to stop the sheer volume of migrants. Instead, they focused on assisting the injured, a necessary but reactive measure. Several sources criticized Madrid for not deploying the army immediately, despite military units in both Ceuta and Melilla being on standby, ready to defend national territory.
Undermining Border Control
Civil Guard sources added that the current situation differs from that seen 5 years ago in May 2021, when Morocco relaxed its border controls in a diplomatic response. This time, the number of people swimming into Ceuta had already been rising for weeks, exacerbated by an internal legal decision. A Spanish Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the immediate return of migrants who reach Spanish territory by swimming directly hampered border enforcement.
This ruling effectively ties the hands of border guards, making it harder to maintain control over who enters national territory. Prime Minister Sánchez claimed Moroccan authorities had cooperated “swiftly and consistently” from the outset, and added that Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska had reinforced border security. However, that reinforcement ultimately resulted in about thirty additional officers and a boat that, a few days later, broke down, a woefully inadequate response to a crisis of this scale.
Despite repeated warnings from intelligence agencies, the Ministry of the Interior did not order the deployment of reinforcements until late Thursday, 3 days ago. Only then was the army called in, along with additional personnel from the Civil Guard and the National Police, a delay that allowed the mass breach of Spain's borders to unfold largely unchecked.