49,000 migrants invade Spanish enclave in 24 hours

Why are the families amongst them leaving? I saw a family with 3 young children attempt this dangerous journey. Why are home governments not looking after their people? It makes me think how lucky I must be.

Agree AGAA4- it is an unwanted sudden influx. an invasion is unwarranted, ie with no legal right. But those seeking asylum do have a legal right to do so.

Having said that, this is a diplomatic flashpoint between Spain and Morocco. There have been previous flashpoints and diplomatic crises between Rabat and Madrid. A previous move like this several years ago iwas nterpreted by some as retaliation for Spain's decision to allow a pro independence leader from the disputed Western-Shara region to receive treatment at a Spanish hospital in a a previous diplomatic stand off. Diplomatic negotiations began and the flash point was resolved.

Ceuta is home to a mix of Christians and Muslims, Spanish and Moroccan workers who usually live together in relative harmony. To turn this 45,000 influx back the Spanish authorities will need to discuss and negotiate with Moroccan authorities and resolve whatever is the current diplomatic issue.

Alternatively all 45,000 ( minus the 18 who died, RIP) have the legal right to claim asylum and will need to be precessed.

LemonJam Fri 31-Jul-26 15:20:59

'The UK has a democratic political system and the majority of the electorate decides which party, with which manifesto on all the above important issues secures the majority vote.'

In 2024 33.7% of votes cast by 59.7% of the electorate (approximately 1 in 5) decided which party, with which manifesto, was successful. Wonder why there are pockets of 'civil unrest'?

You have to remember that the population of Ceuta is ethnically roughly half Spanish and half Moroccan already. There is a small population of Sephardic Jews and Sindhi Hindus.
The history of Ceuta and Mellila is fascinating.

LemonJam

I would call it an influx of 45,000 people over the space of a few hours from Morocco. It evidently was planned.

I would call an invasion an unwarranted entry by force such as a military attack on a country.

Putin calls his invasion of Poland a special military operation He evidently understands the emotive nature of the word invasion.

They broke through the fences by force According to the BBC and other news outlets these migrants stormed into Ceuta.

The BBC is now reporting the numbers to be 60,000.

This was organised, definitely not an influx, reading the information currently available an invasion is a more appropriate term.

if I could do something, I would

Do you have any ideas at all?

This is an area I know, I am horrified, and feel for the residents.

Invasion - forceful entry with hostile intent.
Have they entered Ceuta by force? Is their intent to harm the residents?

It's definitely an unwanted influx of people but not an invasion.

I would call it an influx of 45,000 people over the space of a few hours from Morocco. It evidently was planned.

I would call an invasion an unwarranted entry by force such as a military attack on a country.

Putin calls his invasion of Poland a special military operation He evidently understands the emotive nature of the word invasion.

*Ceuta

I'm not frightened, I'm horrified. They're not attacking and ravaging Ceuta, but they are overwhelming it in huge numbers as was my analogy. I'm more angry than anything, from a distance, and if I could do something, I would, but I can't. So, I'm also frustrated and bewildered as to where one goes from here?

But yes, the residents of Ceura have every reason to feel scared.

I have seen a number of the residents use that term, I assume they are permitted to do that.

Perhaps the residents of Ceuta are the ones who may feel they have been 'invaded'. We cannot know how they feel or what they are thinking.

Cossy

Lemonjam 15:20

Absolutely agree with everything you have said.

It is an issue, but it’s not a new issue.

Also, imo, the word “invasion” isn’t being used in the context of influx, it’s being used, in the main, to “frighten” people.

What would you call 45,000 undocumented people breaking through the fence and entering another country over the space of a few hours if not an invasion?

and we think we have problems!!!!

Lemonjam 15:20

Absolutely agree with everything you have said.

It is an issue, but it’s not a new issue.

Also, imo, the word “invasion” isn’t being used in the context of influx, it’s being used, in the main, to “frighten” people.

butterandjam

Meandrogrog

LemonJam

Countries don't 'need' borders because country borders already exist.

The issue is how countries and their allies decide how to control and manage their borders.

A country is broken if it cannot control its borders.

Well, no country CAN control its borders. If it's a vast country like USA, its borders with Mexico and Canada are so huge they will always leak.

A not-huge island like Britain or Ireland has a huge coastline, most of it unoccupied and unobserved , where boats can land.

In Africa, Europe etc every country borders many others and anyone on two feet can walk across borders at night unseen.

None of this is new, humans have been migrating for ever.

Most if not all EU countries, the UK, US etc try to control their borders but it's impossible to have 100% control. Humans will migrate for ever, they have done so for 1,000+ years- tand it will continue.

The UK has systems in place to try and manage and control its borders and the current government has brought immigration figures down.

Many things contribute to sustaining a country and making sure it doesn't become broken over and above its system in place to manage and control is borders. If the UK has zero immigrants over the next 10 years but internally other things deteriorate- the UK will become broken. It's the sum of all the parts that make up a none broken country.

The UK is not a broken war torn country and neither do we have famine. We still have basic security, a welfare system and rules of law. We have an equal society where women have the same rights as men. UK residents have free access to state education and health services at the point of need and other public services. The UK economy, infrastructure and social fabric has not collapsed. However there have been social fabric tensions and pockets of civil unrest. Hopefully such tensions and civil unrest and the undermining of the rule of law, education, welfare and health systems and government corruption won't escalate in the way we have witnessed in the US over the past year or more under the Trump populist president. Trump is pouring $billions into ICE in an effort to control US borders- but he will not achieve 100% control. The resultant price the US has paid with large scale ant ICE civil unrest and ICE murders yet to be determined and judged- by the next presidential election. Meanwhile the rule of law, education, judiciary, health access etc continue to be undermined and Trump's political corruption continues.

The UK has a democratic political system and the majority of the electorate decides which party, with which manifesto on all the above important issues secures the majority vote. The UK does have pockets of political corruption and civil unrest- but thankfully not to the extent of the US. The UK also has systems in place to identify, scrutinise, investigate and hold to account corrupt politicians.

Galaxy

How does Morocco compare with Spain in terms of rights for gay people. Similar?

I wondered that too.
Our European nations embrace gay people. We have pride week as an example.
Didn’t we just have an attack by a Muslim man last week in Germany?
They don’t seem so accepting of gay people imo

Ceuta is self governing but overseen by the mainland. Although this was a large number, I heard today that overall numbers over the last few years have been far greater in Italy and France than Spain.

How does Morocco compare with Spain in terms of rights for gay people. Similar?

Shel1951

I wonder how this will effect Spanish culture? If they welcome the culture and integrate it shouldn't be a problem, the problem for me is when they bring their own culture and live within their culture it doesn't work if cultures clash,
Just my opinion

FYI, Spanish and Arabic cultures have been deeply entwined for centuries . Arabs occupied Spain for over 500 years; Islamic culture, language, architecture , cuisine and education is still imprinted on everything in modern Spain.

The Alhambra , and flamenco dance, are examples.

I can't see why "invasion" is an unpleasant word.
We have an invasion of grockles in our Devon town in summer when the population doubles in size. It just means an influx. Though our invaders do pay for their accommodation and food, and do go home after.

Who is going to look after all these migrants in Ceuta? It's not fair for any country to have to shoulder the responsibility and to take on the mammoth task.

Galaxy

If the current governments don't police their borders, address the issues, then the populations will vote for governments that will. That is the choice really.

Assuming that choice of different governments exists.

Both of those can be true. And I haven't seen anyone on here do that.

Meandrogrog

LemonJam

Countries don't 'need' borders because country borders already exist.

The issue is how countries and their allies decide how to control and manage their borders.

A country is broken if it cannot control its borders.

A country is broken if it refers to human beings as cockroaches.