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Spain’s Leader Is Seen as Soft on Migrants, but He Acted Fast on Ceuta
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Over 50,000 migrants surged from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta, prompting political leaders to blame or express concern about Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s pro-immigration policies.
- Spain’s far-right leader directly blamed Sánchez, while centrist European leaders called for addressing policies that might act as pull factors for migration.
- Despite the initial surge, most migrants returned quickly to Morocco within 24 hours, many exhausted and without basic necessities.
- Sánchez deployed the military and denied migrants access to food, water, or shelter, contrasting with Europe’s 2015 response to Syrian refugees.
- Sánchez claimed his government restored border control within 48 hours and returned nearly all irregular migrants, highlighting a complex approach to migration amid criticism.
