Thousands of migrants swim to Ceuta, Spain deploys troops

Thousands of migrants swim to Spain's Ceuta enclave, Madrid deploys troops

Thousands of migrants swimming to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Morocco's northern coast have ignited political controversy in Spain. The right-wing opposition accuses Prime Minister Sanchez of failing to act, while Italy's Foreign Minister Tajani demands Spain's Schengen membership be suspended.

Scraper SystemJuly 31, 2026, 12:36 PM

Thousands of migrants swim to Spain's Ceuta enclave, Madrid deploys troops

Thousands of migrants swimming to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Morocco's northern coast have triggered a political crisis in Spain. The Madrid government has decided to deploy troops to the area in response.

Right-wing opposition parties are accusing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of failing to take adequate measures against the migrant influx. Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called for Spain's Schengen membership to be suspended.

Claims that the Moroccan authorities turned a blind eye to the crossing have also surfaced. The incident has once again exposed the migration pressure on the European Union's external borders and the strained relations with North African countries.