The Partido Popular blames the government for the Ceuta migrant influx. The party demands immediate changes to immigration law and calls for Sánchez to address Congress. The crisis exposes deep divisions over border policy.
The Partido Popular (PP) has intensified its criticism of the Spanish government following the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta, holding Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez directly responsible for what it describes as a failure of migration policy. On Thursday, more than 40,000 people reportedly entered the autonomous city, prompting PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo to accuse the government of a slow and inadequate response to what he called an unprecedented situation. The PP is now demanding a rapid overhaul of Spain’s immigration law and has formally requested Sánchez’s urgent appearance before Congress to explain the government’s handling of the crisis.
Feijóo, echoing the concerns of Ceuta’s regional president Juan Jesús Vivas, has also called for the central government to declare the situation in Ceuta as one of “interest for National Security.” The opposition party insists that the current legal framework is insufficient to address the scale of the challenge, particularly after a recent Supreme Court ruling limited the use of immediate returns for migrants intercepted at sea. The PP argues that the law must be amended so that the so-called “border rejection” mechanism can also be applied to maritime arrivals in Ceuta and Melilla.
Throughout Thursday, PP officials issued a series of statements criticizing the government’s perceived lack of resolve. Feijóo warned that repeated “irresponsible decisions” on migration could lead to further crises, while party spokesperson Borja Sémper described the situation as more than a migration issue, urging the government to act decisively to protect citizens. The party’s parliamentary group has already registered a request for an extraordinary session in Congress, seeking Sánchez’s immediate explanation of the government’s actions.
The legal debate centers on a Supreme Court decision from three weeks ago, which clarified that the current law does not permit summary returns of migrants intercepted in open water attempting to swim into Ceuta or Melilla. The PP’s proposed legislative change aims to bypass this interpretation, restoring the government’s ability to carry out rapid expulsions in such cases. The party also wants the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to be deployed in the area to reinforce border controls.
PP leaders argue that the gravity of the situation requires Parliament to remain active, with Cuca Gamarra, the party’s deputy secretary for Institutional Regeneration, stating that Congress cannot remain closed while national sovereignty is at risk. Meanwhile, Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso has gone further, accusing Sánchez of allowing an “invasion” through Ceuta to distract from his own legal troubles, a claim she made on social media the same day her administration announced the sale of a luxury penthouse previously used as an office.
The crisis in Ceuta has also placed significant strain on local police and border forces. As reported in recent coverage of police warnings about operational collapse, authorities have called for urgent legal and resource changes to cope with the influx. The Interior Ministry has promised reinforcements, but the debate over legal tools and political responsibility continues to dominate the national agenda.
Ceuta’s unique position as a Spanish enclave on the North African coast has long made it a focal point for migration issues. The city, along with Melilla, is subject to special border controls and legal provisions. The current crisis has reignited debate over Spain’s approach to border management, the limits of existing law, and the role of European agencies like Frontex. The outcome of the PP’s demands and the government’s response could set important precedents for future migration policy and the balance between security and legal protections at Spain’s borders.
