Spanish intelligence services issued warnings to both Spanish and Moroccan authorities about social media communications encouraging a mass migrant crossing into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on July 29, the day before tens of thousands entered the territory. These revelations emerged from declassified government documents, which have intensified accusations that the Spanish government did not initially provide a full account of the events.
According to a note from Spain's National Intelligence Service (CNI) on July 29, social media groups were identified as promoting an attempt by migrants to reach Ceuta the following day, "both swimming and via the [border] fence." The CNI reported that approximately 180,000 individuals were receiving these messages, with one message indicating that "the authorities will be distracted with the celebrations and parades" on Throne Day, July 30. The CNI also communicated these concerns via text message to the central government's representation in Ceuta and the civil guard.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has maintained that the events of July 30 and 31 were unpredictable in their magnitude. He previously stated in parliament that there was "no information that conveyed the magnitude" of the "crisis we were going to suffer." However, opposition parties argue that the newly released documents contradict these assertions. Ester Muñoz of the conservative People's Party stated that the government "had the information" and is "directly responsible for the invasion of Ceuta and for those who died."
During the period of July 30 and 31, an estimated 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta. Many reportedly swam around the border fence, and according to figures from Ceuta's mayor, at least 100 individuals died during the crossings. While most migrants were returned, reports indicate that as many as 5,000 remained in makeshift camps or on the streets and beaches of the city, leading to local unrest. Residents have voiced safety concerns, and some instances of shelters being destroyed or aid being blocked have been reported.
The declassified documents are part of a larger collection of over 40 security-related files concerning the Ceuta crossings. Their release followed mounting pressure on Sánchez regarding his administration's handling of the crisis and allegations that Morocco played a role in facilitating the influx. A previously leaked Spanish police report also suggested Moroccan police involvement, although Sánchez has stated there is no evidence to support claims of Moroccan complicity.
Shortly before the documents' release, Sánchez told Spanish television that the "mass arrival of migrants was not expected." A government source commented that the published documents "showed that the information available before the mass crossing did not make it possible to anticipate the scale that the crisis would reach or prepare with enough time the necessary response." Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, the central government's delegate in Ceuta, addressed the CNI's text messages, characterizing them as an "exchange of information" rather than a formal alert or report.