Archbishop Jesús Sanz of Oviedo has stirred debate with his claim that nearly 70,000 migrants recently arrived in Ceuta. He framed the issue as a direct threat to Spanish sovereignty and a humanitarian concern. In a recent homily, Sanz described the situation as an "avalanche" that has left many residents feeling besieged and anxious, citing disruptions to daily life and reports of serious crimes. Official figures, but, tell a different story: Spanish media reported 4,076 irregular land crossings into Ceuta from January to August 2026. That was a 102% increase from the previous year, but remained far below the 70,000 figure cited in some political and media commentary.
Sanz delivered his remarks during the annual Virgen de Covadonga celebration, extending them beyond calls for compassion. He accused the Spanish government of failing to protect the country’s borders and compared the situation to a "hybrid war," suggesting that the arrival of thousands of mostly young migrants was orchestrated to exploit Spain’s vulnerabilities. In forceful terms, Sanz said Ceuta had been "taken" and its people left "sheltered between fear, decay, intimidation, and the violation of minors." Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected the idea that Morocco had organized the crisis, telling parliament on September 3 that the government had "no convincing evidence" of such orchestration. European and international bodies have echoed that position.
The Spanish government has acknowledged that it cannot currently determine the exact number of people remaining in Ceuta after the mass influx, because identification and protection procedures are ongoing.
Sanz also criticized Prime Minister Sánchez personally, likening his leadership to "Alicia in Wonderland" and accusing the government of projecting a false sense of stability while ignoring real dangers. He argued that the official narrative does not match residents’ experiences, pointing to rising insecurity and social tension. Reuters and other major outlets have reported that Sánchez has called for efforts to counter misinformation and promised to release official documents about the crisis. The government has also approved emergency measures to support Ceuta’s basic services and economy.
While Sanz acknowledged the Christian duty to welcome the vulnerable, he insisted that Spain cannot accept everyone who arrives. He called for "sensible, not populist or demagogic" policies to ensure real integration and warned against letting people with "perverse intentions" slip through. He also accused countries of origin of using migration as use, referring to secretive tactics and alluding to the Pegasus spyware scandal that previously affected Spanish politics.
In Sanz’s view, the crisis involves people fleeing hardship and foreign governments taking advantage of Spain’s openness while receiving European funding. He argued that these states do little to address the root causes of migration, leaving Spain to deal with the consequences.
The most controversial episode occurred on July 30 and 31, 2026, when some reports estimated 70,000 to 80,000 attempted crossings. These figures are political or journalistic estimates, not officially confirmed data. The Spanish government has stressed that, as of early September, only 4,076 irregular land entries had been officially recorded for the year.
Spanish press
Sanz’s comments have renewed debate over the government’s response. The Spanish administration recently allocated €165 million to Ceuta to support local services and ease the strain caused by the migrant influx, as previously reported. Still, Sanz’s intervention suggests that some influential voices see financial aid alone as insufficient to resolve what they regard as a crisis of security and national identity.
Sanz is known for leading the ultraconservative wing of the Spanish Church, and his rhetoric often draws sharp lines between national interest and humanitarian duty. His latest remarks come as Ceuta’s social fabric is visibly strained and public confidence in official solutions remains fragile. By framing the crisis as a siege and calling for tougher controls, Sanz reflects broader anxiety about Spain’s ability to manage large-scale migration without undermining its stability.
Ceuta and other Spanish border cities have long faced periodic surges in migration from North Africa, testing local infrastructure and national policy. The government’s emergency funding is a short-term measure, while underlying tensions over security and integration, alongside international diplomacy, remain unresolved. Sanz’s intervention, though controversial, highlights the depth of unease among some in Spanish society and the political risks for leaders seen as disconnected from local realities. His words may divide opinion, but they draw attention to the limits of Spain’s current migration policies and the need to balance compassion with control.
