Between 8,000 and 11,000 immigrants have remained in Ceuta after entering the Spanish autonomous city, representing at least 10 percent of its total population. Journalist and academic Francisco Marhuenda reported that no Spanish officials have resigned over the entry, which he described as an orchestrated violation of national sovereignty.
The president of Ceuta stated that thousands of people are currently wandering through streets, neighborhoods, hills, and beaches without shelter or basic needs being met. Local business activity and economic stability in the autonomous city have suffered due to widespread uncertainty and rising crime.
Marhuenda criticized Interior Minister Marlaska, the European Commission, and European interior ministers for their response to the crisis. He argued that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his coalition government showed incompetence similar to previous territorial concessions regarding Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.
Moroccan ports and youth unemployment
Youth unemployment in Morocco has reached 40 percent, according to Marhuenda. He alleged that Morocco uses border crossings into Ceuta and Melilla as a strategy to shift its unemployment burdens onto Spain and the European Union.
Morocco has spent billions of dollars developing the Tanger Med megaport near Ceuta and the Nador West Med port adjacent to Melilla. Although Spain pays Morocco for border control and the European Union provides financial assistance, Marhuenda noted that Morocco continues prioritizing its own economic goals.
More than 1,000 unaccompanied minors entered Ceuta during the crossing. Marhuenda pointed out that while Spanish citizens face arrest and imprisonment for abandoning children in public spaces, the government permits Moroccan families to send minors across the border illegally.
Dispute over minor transfers to regions
The central government directed the Attorney General of the State to prepare legal proceedings against autonomous communities governed by the Popular Party and Vox. Left-wing officials intend to distribute the minor migrants into those opposition-led regions rather than sending them back to their families.
Marhuenda compared current border management to the papers for all policies enacted under former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. He called for strengthening Police and Civil Guard deployments to fortify the border and returning all non-citizen minors directly to Morocco.
The columnist noted that Prime Minister Sánchez remained focused on his personal vacation and viewing the solar eclipse during the border events. Meanwhile, left-wing media outlets continue demanding that Madrid Regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso resign over a penthouse apartment while overlooking border security issues in Ceuta.
Political tension and international relations
Sánchez has also engaged in political disputes with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Madrid President Ayuso. Marhuenda stated that the prime minister struggles in interactions with strong female leaders and prefers surrounding himself with loyal allies, including Diana Morant, Milagros Tolón, and Mercedes González.
Failing to secure the border risks creating recurring migration crises in Ceuta, according to Marhuenda. He added that media commentary defending the government will not prompt any official resignations or early elections.
