Former President Donald Trump on Friday likened the recent influx of tens of thousands of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta to a "catastrophe" and warned that a similar, or worse, scenario could unfold in the United States if Democrats regain power in upcoming elections.
Speaking at Camp David, Trump described the events at the Moroccan border as an "invasion," where many migrants, including military-aged men, breached defenses into Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the North African coast. He asserted that such events would be "small time" compared to potential U.S. border situations under Democratic leadership.
"And that same thing is going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected, except worse," Trump stated. "Much bigger, much easier to get into, despite the fact that we have built thousands of miles of wall, which I said we were going to do."
He claimed that under a Democratic administration, the U.S. would face "invasion at levels that made Spain look small time." Trump also criticized the Biden administration, stating that it had "allowed 25 million people into our country, because many of those people are criminals, they’re murderers."
The situation in Ceuta followed a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla, another Spanish city in northern Morocco, could not be immediately deported. This ruling came months after the Spanish government initiated a program granting legal status to approximately 500,000 undocumented immigrants within the country.
Trump characterized Spain's immigration policies as "bad management" and "weak," citing "very liberal" laws enacted by the socialist Spanish government. He suggested that such policies are perceived by individuals in other countries, leading to events like migrants swimming to reach the territory.
The State Department commented on the situation, attributing the humanitarian issues to the Spanish government's immigration policies. In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the department said, "The United States stands with the people of Spain, and all Europeans, against this egregious violation of their sovereignty and human rights."
The department further stated, "This unacceptable incident is the direct result of the Spanish Government’s deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe." It also pledged support for allies seeking to implement stricter immigration controls and indicated that the U.S. was "considering actions to defend Americans at home and abroad from this threat and stand ready to assist other European allies considering similar options."