Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Trump Slams Spain Over Ceuta Migrant Crisis, Border Control
A large group of migrants moved from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish territory.
Donald Trump criticized Spain and said it was not controlling its border.
He warned that migrants could travel from Spain to other parts of Europe.
Spain’s prime minister said there was no strong proof that Morocco planned the influx.
A Spanish police report said Moroccan officers may not have done enough to stop it.
Morocco denied relaxing its border controls.
Morocco instead blamed misleading information spread on social media.
Spain and Morocco are also arguing about who should control Ceuta and Melilla.
Several European countries are considering sending rejected asylum seekers to special centers outside the European Union.
Donald Trump accused Spain of having “zero control” of its border during the Ceuta migrant crisis.
Trump called the influx an “outrage” and warned migrants could move from Spain into other European countries.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said there was no “solid proof” that Morocco orchestrated the influx.
A Spanish police report alleged Moroccan security forces showed “total permissiveness,” while Morocco denied easing border controls.
Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Greece backed a proposal for migrant “return hubs” outside the European Union by 2027.
- Who
- Donald Trump, Spain, Morocco, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and several European Union countries were involved in the dispute and policy debate.
- What
- Trump criticized Spain over a major migrant influx into Ceuta, while Spain and Morocco disputed Morocco’s role in the episode.
- When
- The remarks and reported developments were published on September 6, 2026; the return-hub plan could begin as early as 2027.
- Where
- The migrant influx occurred at Ceuta, a Spanish territory on Morocco’s coast; the proposed return hubs would be in non-European Union countries.
- Why
- Trump said Spain lacked border control and warned of wider consequences for Europe; European countries proposed return hubs for people whose asylum applications were rejected.
Criticism of Spain and Moroccan border response
Spanish and Moroccan responses
Spain’s border control
Criticism of Spain and Moroccan border response
Donald Trump said Spain had “zero control” of its border and warned that the consequences could spread across Europe.
Spanish and Moroccan responses
Spain’s government has focused on assessing the circumstances of the influx and rejected claims that Morocco’s involvement has been proven.
Morocco’s role
Criticism of Spain and Moroccan border response
A Spanish police report said Moroccan security forces showed “total permissiveness,” with fewer officers present and no serious effort to stop the surge.
Spanish and Moroccan responses
Pedro Sanchez said there was no solid proof Morocco orchestrated the incident, while Morocco denied easing border controls and blamed misleading social-media content.
Return hubs
Criticism of Spain and Moroccan border response
Human rights groups criticized the proposal to send people with rejected asylum claims to facilities in non-European Union countries.
Spanish and Moroccan responses
Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Greece support exploring return hubs, and European officials say they would comply with European and international law.
- Trump’s criticism
- He said Spain had “ZERO control” of its border and called the situation “so sad” and an “outrage.”
- Location
- The crisis involved Ceuta, a Spanish territory bordering Morocco.
- Spanish government position
- Pedro Sanchez said there was no “solid proof” that Morocco orchestrated the migrant influx.
- Police report
- A Spanish report described Morocco’s response as one of “total permissiveness” and alleged officers made no serious attempt to stop the surge.
- Morocco’s position
- Morocco denied relaxing controls at the border and blamed the influx on social-media exploitation and misleading information.
- Territorial dispute
- Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi was quoted as asserting historic and geographical rights over Ceuta and Melilla, while Sanchez said they would remain Spanish.
- Return-hub proposal
- Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Greece backed a model involving rejected asylum seekers being sent to facilities in non-European Union countries, potentially from 2027.