Ester Muñoz from the PP claims the government had advance warning of a mass migrant crossing in Ceuta but failed to act. She suggests officials may have even facilitated the event. The controversy intensifies calls for accountability.
Ester Muñoz, spokesperson for the Partido Popular in Congress, has accused Spain’s government of failing to protect Ceuta’s border and even of helping enable the mass entry of about 70,000 migrants at the end of July. Speaking in Sevilla La Nueva, Muñoz said the government had advance intelligence about the planned crossing but did not reinforce security or intervene. Her comments have reignited debate over how officials handled one of the largest border incidents in recent years.
Muñoz argued that police stationed at the Ceuta border on July 31 were left without the authority to act as crowds gathered on the Moroccan side. She claimed the government’s inaction was intentional, not accidental.
Official documents reveal that by July, arrivals in Ceuta had already surged by 168% compared to the previous year, with 1,272 migrants entering before the end-of-month crisis.
Muñoz pointed to reports that the Guardia Civil had issued warnings in early July, after a Supreme Court ruling that suggested tensions at the border could rise. She also cited information that the head of the cabinet relayed CNI intelligence to the local delegate the night before the crossing, and that Interior Minister Marlaska allegedly ordered no action be taken. For Muñoz, these details suggest more than negligence—they point to deliberate facilitation.
She called for every migrant who entered Spain irregularly during the incident to be returned, regardless of age. Muñoz referenced agreements between Spain and Morocco, saying minors should either be reunited with their families or placed under Moroccan social services. She also warned that moving migrants across the peninsula would encourage further irregular entry and weaken border policy.
The government is under growing scrutiny for its response. The Ceuta incident has already led to resignations and conflicting accounts among officials, as reported in a previous investigation. The PP is demanding snap elections and has threatened a no-confidence motion, though Muñoz noted that Sánchez’s coalition partners would determine any change in parliament.
According to declassified reports from Spain’s intelligence agency (CNI) and the National Police, warnings about coordinated attempts to cross into Ceuta were issued as early as July 29, including alerts about social media activity organizing the mass entry. The government maintains that while it was aware of the risk, there was no reliable evidence to predict the unprecedented scale of the crisis.
Muñoz’s accusations have put the government on the defensive. She cites advance intelligence, ignored warnings, and alleged orders to stand down as evidence of deliberate inaction. The government has not yet given a detailed response. As the opposition’s narrative gains ground, the lack of clear answers risks further eroding public trust in Spain’s border management and in those responsible for it.
