U.S. Representative Brandon Gill, R-Texas, has criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, attributing a recent surge of migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta to Sánchez's immigration policies. The enclave of Ceuta, bordering Morocco, has seen over 2,000 migrants cross into its territory in the past 10 days, prompting Ceuta's government to formally request a national emergency declaration.
Viral videos circulating online depict large numbers of people, described by some as "hordes of military aged men," entering Ceuta. Some migrants are seen smiling for cameras, carrying swimming flippers, and running through streets as authorities attempt to manage the influx. Other footage shows individuals arriving by sea and climbing over border fences.
Gill specifically pointed to Sánchez's "extraordinary regularization" program, which allows eligible undocumented migrants already in Spain to obtain legal status and work authorization. While the Spanish government describes the policy as a measure for economic integration, critics, including Gill, have labeled it a mass amnesty. "That's what happens every single time a politician offers amnesty," Gill stated on X.
Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas requested the national emergency declaration from Prime Minister Sánchez to aid in managing the border crisis, which officials described as being of "particular intensity" over the last 10 days. However, Spain's Ministry of the Interior denied the request, stating that migratory flows do not fall under the current national civil protection regulations that would allow for such a declaration.
Prime Minister Sánchez has previously defended Spain's approach to migration, arguing that accepting migrants is crucial for the country's economy, citing low birth rates. In a February op-ed in The New York Times, Sánchez wrote, "The West needs people. Currently, few of its countries have a rising population growth rate. Unless they embrace migration, they will experience a sharp demographic decline that will prevent them from keeping their economies and public services afloat."
The White House in the U.S. has also commented on the situation, criticizing Sánchez's policies. A statement indicated that "President Trump has long warned Europe what would happen if they continue to implement far-left, globalist policies – including enabling mass migration." The White House urged Spain and other nations with similar policies to "immediately reverse course or risk their own demise."
Despite the criticism and the request for a national emergency, Sánchez's government has stated it is committed to addressing the situation in Ceuta by mobilizing resources and working with Moroccan and international authorities to restore normalcy. IMAGE7: