31/07/2026 18:29 - Internacionales
On July 31, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump used the unfolding migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta to issue a stark warning about America’s own immigration future. Speaking to Fox News, he described the images of thousands of people crossing from Morocco as “terrible” and predicted: “That will be us in three years if the wrong side gets into power.”
Ceuta is a small Spanish city on the northern coast of Africa, bordering Morocco. It is one of the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. The crisis began after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled against “hot returns” (summary deportations at sea). In response, more than 50,000 people, mostly young Moroccans, swam or walked across the Tarajal breakwater to enter Ceuta. At least 41 people died during the crossing, according to local authorities.
Spain immediately deployed the Army, National Police, and Civil Guard to secure the border. The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also activated emergency protocols and called for international support.
Despite the chaos, cooperation between Spain and Morocco began to yield results quickly. By the morning of July 31, more than 25,000 migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco at a rate of 150 per minute, according to Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. The situation is gradually returning to normal, with authorities working to process the remaining individuals and prevent further loss of life.
Trump used the crisis to attack the Biden administration’s immigration policies, which he claims are too lenient. During a cabinet meeting at Camp David, he added: “It looks like an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people, and the same will happen to us if the Republicans don’t win the elections – only worse, much bigger.”
His comments come just months before the U.S. midterm elections, where immigration is a key issue. Vice President JD Vance and senior advisor Stephen Miller echoed Trump’s warnings, calling for stricter border controls and criticizing Spain’s handling of the crisis.
The U.S. State Department, led by Marco Rubio, expressed support for Spain but condemned what it called a “violation of sovereignty” by Morocco. The U.S. Embassy in Spain advised American citizens to avoid traveling to Ceuta and Melilla due to “unpredictable and dangerous conditions.”
Israel also weighed in. Ambassador Danny Dannon and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sarcastically suggested that Spain, known for its criticism of Israel, should welcome residents of Gaza instead of complaining about the migrant surge.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
