Juan Vivas received a standing ovation on El Hormiguero, where the president of Ceuta spoke about the city’s crisis and its ties to Spain’s security and identity. He put it plainly: “Standing with Ceuta means standing with Spain.”
Two weeks after the border breach that saw thousands cross into Ceuta, the city remains under heavy strain. Vivas sought 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 “impressive,” and told viewers, “Thank you for defending Ceuta and Spain.”
Vivas also spoke directly to Ceuta’s residents, acknowledging the pressure on families and businesses as the migration emergency drags on, along with the strain on local services. “To all ceutíes, regardless of how you pray,” he said, “your ability to recover is what keeps this city together.” It was a nod to Ceuta’s diverse population and the shared hardship they’re facing. On 8 September, Vivas addressed the European Parliament and Commission in Brussels, urging the EU to take a firmer stance and help restore normalcy to Ceuta.
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 his position 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. Several independent reports say approximately 80,000 people entered Ceuta on July 30. Thousands from third countries and many unaccompanied minors remained in the city. That figure has become a basic reference point for the scale of the crisis.
Vivas has kept Ceuta’s crisis in the national conversation. Appearing on one of Spain’s most-watched shows, he put the issue back in the spotlight and pressed 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 ability to recover will be pushed to its limit. Vivas’s appearance showed that border crises in Spain reach beyond local concerns, testing the country’s resolve and political will.
