Spain lost control of the border surrounding its North African enclave of Ceuta — the White House responded.
“President Trump has long warned Europe what would happen if they continue to implement far-left, globalist policies, including enabling mass migration,” White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News.
“Spain and other countries who have adopted this destructive philosophy should immediately reverse course or risk their own demise.”
The warning came as thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta by land and sea, overwhelming police, shelters and local officials.
Ceuta President Juan JesĂşs Vivas initially said more than 2,000 people had entered over 10 days. The situation then exploded Thursday, with Vivas estimating Friday that roughly 60,000 migrants crossed in 24 hours, according to the Associated Press.
At least 18 people reportedly died trying to reach the Spanish territory.
Videos captured young men pouring through border crossings, running through city streets and climbing onto Ceuta’s rocky shoreline. Some arrived carrying swimming fins after making their way around barriers separating the enclave from Morocco.
Thousands of migrants have streamed into the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa from Morocco, prompting local officials to call for help from Spain’s national government in Madrid to restore the border. pic.twitter.com/S2fTWapBzR
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 30, 2026
🚨BREAKING: An emergency has now been declared in the Spanish city of Ceuta after tens of thousands of illegal migrants break in from Morocco
Pedro Sánchez is REFUSING to deploy the military to defend the borders. 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/OvtzvEZxBs
— Inevitable West (@Inevitablewest) July 30, 2026
Vivas asked Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to declare a national emergency and place the response under a single national command.
Madrid said the requested emergency mechanism could not legally be used for the migration crisis. But the government still sent Army units to help the overwhelmed Civil Guard regain control, El PaĂs reported.
“The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable,” Vivas said.
Ceuta is a small Spanish city on the North African coast. Morocco surrounds it by land, making its border one of the European Union’s most politically sensitive entry points.
The enclave faced a similar crisis in 2021, when Morocco relaxed border enforcement and roughly 8,000 people entered Ceuta in two days.
The White House blamed the latest breakdown on the Spanish government’s broader approach to immigration. Sánchez’s government has rejected claims that its recent migrant policies caused the surge and has instead blamed trafficking networks.
President Trump spoke with Fox News about the crisis.
“It’s terrible,” Trump said. “Remember that picture. That’s going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in.”
NEW: President Trump reacts to the massive migrant surge overwhelming Ceuta, Spain, warning it could happen in America.
"It's terrible. Remember that picture. That's going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in," Trump tells Fox News' @JacquiHeinrich, referring to… pic.twitter.com/Avwc1fVMYQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 31, 2026
