Sanchez Denies Prior Warnings Before Sudden Ceuta Migrant Influx

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:41:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez denies prior warnings before the sudden Ceuta migrant influx, amid protests and political pressure.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez insisted that the government knew nothing about the 72,000 migrants who surged into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta last month. He told a parliamentary debate that no evidence points to Moroccan orchestration or coordination with Spain. The claim comes as large anti‑government protests erupt nationwide and opposition parties accuse the government of a cover‑up. Spain’s handling of the crisis has strained relations with its European partners, prompting Italy to tighten border controls. The controversy now places Sanchez under intense domestic scrutiny as he faces questions over the Spanish‑Moroccan border.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has insisted that the Spanish government was unaware of the spike that saw 72,000 migrants cross into the North‑African enclave of Ceuta last month, a claim that has provoked sharp criticism from opposition parties and sparked nationwide protests.

“It’s absurd to think that the government knew and did nothing,” Sánchez told parliament on Thursday, rejecting accusations that the crisis was pre‑planned or coordinated with Morocco. He emphasized that there is no evidence of Moroccan involvement, despite a police report indicating that Moroccan security forces were “totally permissive” during the July crossings.

Most of the migrants have been returned to Morocco, but around 5,000 remain in Ceuta, including up to 1,400 children. Opposition leaders, notably Alberto Núñez Feijóo, called the situation a “cover‑up” and urged the prime minister to step down. Spain’s handling of the crisis has even strained ties with European neighbors, prompting Italy to tighten border restrictions on arrivals from Spain.

In his parliamentary speech, Sánchez stressed the delicate nature of Spain’s relationship with Morocco, warning against both extreme blame and undue criticism while reaffirming that Ceuta represents “Spain on the border of Europe.”