MADRID — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez found himself politically isolated after thousands of migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, prompting sharp criticism from European leaders and calls for tougher border measures.
Around 50,000 undocumented migrants arrived in Ceuta in the recent surge, a development that spurred swift responses from EU capitals worried about uncontrolled crossings and the potential strain on the bloc’s borders. Twenty-two member states signed a letter urging immediate action and warning that options including suspension of Schengen cooperation should be considered to prevent similar episodes.
Sánchez rejected what he called a “selfish, polarising and unlawful” reaction from some EU peers, saying their attitudes were “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance or political interest.” He noted that many unauthorised entries into the EU occur through Italy, Greece and the Western Balkans, and defended Spain’s migration stance even as leaders from Denmark, Italy, Germany and others pushed a harder line.
The government said about half of those who crossed into Ceuta have already returned to Morocco and suggested the remainder would be repatriated soon. Madrid has defended a recent plan to grant residency permits to over 1 million undocumented migrants for work in Spain only, arguing the measure is unlikely to produce onward movement across the EU.
The incident has widened Sánchez’s political exposure at home, where he leads a fragile minority coalition and trails in polls ahead of a 2027 election. Critics linked the migrant surge to diplomatic tensions with Morocco and seized on the crisis to press Spain toward stricter migration controls, while others urged collective EU solutions to manage irregular migration and prevent future mass crossings.