Sánchez sends armed forces to Ceuta amid migration chaos

Spain’s government deployed military units to Ceuta on Thursday after thousands of migrants forced their way from Morocco into the Spanish enclave. The armed forces are supporting the Civil Guard in the city of about 80,000 people “to maintain security in the city of Ceuta,” Spanish media reported. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to visit the autonomous city on Friday, where he will meet with local authorities to “restore normality as soon as possible,” the PM wrote on X. Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of migrants either breaking through border gates or swimming from Morocco to the Spanish enclave on Thursday. At least 19 people died while attempting to reach Spain, police told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE. Munaim, a Moroccan athlete who once represented Morocco on the international stage as a beach football player, was among the tens of thousands of people who crossed into Ceuta on Thursday. “I came to Ceuta because, ever since I was a child, I wanted to go to Spain,” Munaim told The Telegraph, which, like POLITICO, is part of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network. “I hope to become a professional footballer in Spain,” he added. “There were so many people during the crossing – children, adults, women and men,” he recalls — but despite the danger, Munaim insists he never considered turning back. Behind the decision, he says, lies the hope of giving his family opportunities he believes he cannot find at home: “I’m doing this for my family. All I ask is that they keep me in their prayers.” For Sánchez’s left-wing government, the crisis could become a diplomatic nightmare. Italy’s right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni has called for the suspension of the Schengen agreement, or for Spain to be kicked out of the free-travel zone. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on X on Friday that France would set up controls at the country’s border with Spain. Spain’s center-right opposition People’s Party urged the government to regain “effective control of the border” and ensure the return “of those who have entered illegally,” in a statement posted on X. Manfred Weber, leader of the center-right European People’s Party group in the European Parliament, urged Sánchez to “act swiftly and firmly to protect our common external borders” on social media. Far-right politicians across Europe warned that Ceuta should not become a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis. Germany’s far-right leader Alice Weidel said, “Borders must now be closed and rejections rigorously enforced. 2015 must not repeat itself!” while her French counterpart Marine Le Pen added: “France must without delay strengthen controls at its borders.” This article has been updated. Antonio Sempere contributed reporting from Ceuta, Spain.