A migrant surge tests Spain’s open policies

Europe | Rushing the gates

A migrant surge tests Spain’s open policies

It is also angering the rest of Europe

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Photograph: AP

Jul 31st 2026|Madrid|4 min read

For several days a stream of migrants swam from Morocco into Spanish territory. Then on July 30th and into the early hours of the next day, the stream turned to an uncontrollable flood. In all, Spanish officials think more than 50,000 entered Ceuta, a small Spanish enclave on the North African coast, which has a permanent population of just 84,000. Overwhelmed, Spanish police waved them through and even offered water and sandwiches to some of them.

Map: The Economist

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