Ceuta, a Spanish exclave on the African continent bordering Morocco, has emerged as a significant issue in the U.S. midterm elections, following an influx of approximately 60,000 Moroccan migrants. Currently, more than 48,000 have returned to Morocco, but the simultaneous crossing of thousands has drawn considerable attention.
The Hill reported on July 31 that President Donald Trump criticized the situation, suggesting it would be a consequence of Democratic governance. In an interview with Fox News, Trump described the incident as "horrific" and urged viewers to remember the images, warning that a return to power by the wrong forces in three years could lead to similar events. He added, "If the Democrats are in power, you will not be able to live a good life." Stephen Miller, Deputy White House Chief of Staff, also shared a video of the crossings on social media, claiming, "The Democrats have allowed this to happen every day during Biden's four years in office."
According to Al Jazeera, Juan Jesús Vivas, the head of Ceuta's autonomous government, reported that 60,000 migrants crossed illegally into Ceuta over two days, from July 30 to 31. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior estimated the number at 50,000, with most, around 48,300, having returned by 6 p.m. on July 31. At least 67 people died during the crossing.
As reported by The Guardian and The New York Times, Ceuta is a Spanish exclave located adjacent to northern Morocco, with a population of just 84,000. It has been Spanish territory since 1580 and remains an autonomous city alongside another African exclave, Melilla. Morocco, a former Spanish colony, does not officially recognize these areas as Spanish territory, referring to them as occupied land. The BBC noted that Ceuta has long been a gateway for migrants seeking to enter Europe. In 2021, 8,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, straining diplomatic relations between Spain and Morocco.
Reports also highlighted Morocco's high unemployment rate and recent anti-government protests among the younger generation, which have fueled discontent. Many Moroccans swam several kilometers to reach the Spanish territory. Additionally, under the leftist government of Pedro Sánchez, Spain has adopted a more lenient immigration policy, granting legal residency to 500,000 illegal immigrants in April.
Given the Trump administration's strict stance on illegal immigration, the large-scale crossing attempts at Ceuta have not gone unnoticed. The Hill indicated that some Republicans hope to leverage the Ceuta crossing issue in the upcoming midterm elections.
The New York Times reported on August 1 that the reasons behind the Moroccan migrants' crossing into Ceuta remain unclear. The Moroccan border did not prevent their crossing, leading to a surge of people from across Morocco. The Guardian suggested that the recent opening of the Moroccan border might be linked to Prime Minister Sánchez's recent visit to Algeria, which has been embroiled in a territorial dispute with Morocco over Western Sahara.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.