Juan Vivas appeared on El Hormiguero to speak about the ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta. He used the national platform to thank those standing with the city and to lay out the urgent challenges residents face after recent border turmoil.
Juan Vivas stepped onto the set of El Hormiguero and was greeted with a standing ovation—a sign of just how serious Ceuta’s situation has become. The president of the autonomous city got straight to the point: “Estar con Ceuta es estar con España.” His message was clear: Ceuta’s fate is tied to Spain’s own security and identity.
Two weeks after the border breach that saw thousands cross into Ceuta, the city is still under heavy strain. Vivas’s appearance wasn’t just another media stop. He wanted to rally support and remind viewers that the crisis isn’t over. He thanked El Hormiguero for focusing on Ceuta, calling the program’s attention “essential,” and told viewers, “Gracias por defender a Ceuta y a España.”
On 8 September, Juan Vivas addressed the European Parliament and Commission in Brussels, urging the EU to take a firmer stance and assist in restoring normalcy to Ceuta.
Vivas also spoke directly to Ceuta’s residents, recognizing the pressure on families, businesses, and local services as the migration emergency drags on. “To all ceutíes, regardless of how you pray,” he said, “your resilience is what keeps this city together.” It was a nod to Ceuta’s diverse population and the shared hardship they’re facing.
Ceuta’s crisis isn’t happening in isolation. The sudden arrival of thousands has exposed the limits of Spain’s border policies and local infrastructure. Vivas made it clear: Ceuta can’t handle this alone. His call for help echoed similar appeals from other Spanish cities under social and economic strain, as seen recently in Bilbao.
According to several independent reports, approximately 80,000 people entered Ceuta on July 30, with thousands from third countries and many unaccompanied minors remaining in the city. This figure has become a key reference point for the scale of the crisis.
Vivas has refused to let Ceuta’s crisis slip out of the national conversation. By appearing on one of Spain’s most-watched shows, he put the issue back in the spotlight and pressed both officials and the public to face what’s happening. The applause in the studio was real, but so was the tension: Ceuta’s future depends on more than symbolic gestures. Without real support and a workable plan from Madrid, the city’s resilience will be pushed to its limit. Vivas’s appearance was a reminder that border crises in Spain are never just local—they test the country’s resolve and political will.
