60,000 migrants surge Spain’s border from Morocco, Trump warns it ‘could happen’ in US

CEUTA, Spain (TNND) — Around 60,000 migrants have entered the Spanish city of Ceuta from Morocco in the last 24 hours, Ceuta’s president announced on Friday.

President Juan Jesús Vivas described the situation as “absolutely unsustainable.” The number of migrants coming through the border to Spain is equivalent to 70% of the city’s regular population.

At least 34 migrants have died in the process. The situation at the border comes as security forces clash with migrants on the Moroccan side of the border.

Spain’s interior ministry released its own numbers after Vivas’ address, estimating that some 50,000 people had crossed since Thursday. It added that half had already returned to Morocco.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the breach on Friday, calling the events “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.”

Sánchez blamed human smugglers for the breach, saying they deceive young people and “ultimately lead many of them to their deaths.”

A live feed of the border showed hundreds of migrants gathering on a hill overlooking Ceuta. The crowd was being dispersed with tear gas by Moroccan forces as others swam to the Spanish territory. Large migrant groups were also seen walking back toward Morocco to return home.

Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local workers association representing Civil Guard officers, told The Associated Press that thousands of migrants have been left sleeping in parks and on sidewalks, or roaming the streets. Sbihi said unaccompanied children were also among the crowds, describing the scenes as a “humanitarian crisis.”

Sbihi said some of the 34 who had died had drowned, and some were killed in a stampede at a breakwater fence on Tarajal beach.

Moroccan police have used water cannons and fired warning shots into the air to stop migrants from crossing into Ceuta, rights groups in Morocco told the outlet.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the situation as “unacceptable.”

We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules,” von der Leyen said on Friday. “Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow.”

Italy’s Giorgia Meloni said her nation would not stand by and watch the situation unfold.

“The images coming from Ceuta are striking and demonstrate, once again, that uncontrolled illegal immigration poses a concrete threat to the security of Europe’s borders,” Meloni said on X.

We are convening the relevant bodies, and following these meetings, we are prepared to intervene with extraordinary measures to defend the borders and the safety of citizens, including the suspension of the Schengen Area with Spain.”

President Donald Trump reacted to the migrant surge, warning that it could happen in America if Democrats succeed in the midterms and secure the majority in Congress.

It’s terrible. Remember that picture. That’s going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in,” Trump told Fox News’ Jaqui Heinrich on Friday.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement which reads:

“The United States stands with the people of Spain, and all Europeans, against this egregious violation of their sovereignty and human rights. This unacceptable incident is the direct result of the Spanish Government’s deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe. We are considering actions to defend Americans at home and abroad from this threat and stand ready to assist other European allies considering similar options.”

Vice President JD Vance took to social media to praise President Trump for his border policy in the United States.

“Thank God @POTUS was elected and our country’s border no longer looks like this. These images out of Spain are an unfortunate reminder of the consequences of mass migration and the radical left-wing globalist policies that have enabled the Invasion of the West,” Vance said.

Authorities in Ceuta and Madrid have linked the border surge to a recent decision by Spain’s Supreme Court that ruled migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported, unlike those who cross by land or climb the border fence.

Sánchez said Friday that migrant smugglers misinterpreted the ruling. Activists in Morocco argued most migrants would have been unaware of such legal decisions.

To reach Ceuta, which is located on the northern African coast, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about 3 miles (5 kilometers) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.