- Migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, with about 48,000 of the up to 60,000 people who entered returning within a day and nearly three dozen dying.
- Jonathan Liew describes Ceuta as a carnival of anti-migrant content for hateful opportunists on the right, calling it border porn for the global far right.
- Ceuta and Melilla operate under special exemptions from the Schengen area, making it nearly impossible for undocumented migrants to reach the mainland.
- The European Union has invested hundreds of millions of euros in border-management partnerships with Morocco over the years.
- Liew argues that the right does not act alone, as the left's relief at migrants returning indicates a worrying acquiescence to the narrative of migration as a problem.
The migrant incursion at Ceuta has sparked global attention, with nearly three dozen fatalities reported.5
About 48,000 of the up to 60,000 migrants returned to Morocco within a day, illustrating the chaotic nature of the situation.1236
The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, operating under special exemptions from the Schengen area, complicate undocumented migration to mainland Europe.
European leaders have criticized the Sánchez government, as the right-wing opportunists exploit the crisis for political gain ahead of upcoming elections.
As Liew notes, the spectacle of Ceuta serves as a platform for the far right to project their anti-immigration narratives, blurring the lines between nationalism and white supremacy.
Moreover, the left's relief at the migrants' return reflects a troubling acceptance of migration as a problem, necessitating a more proactive response in future crises.
These are the stakes, as the next Ceuta could demand a more thoughtful approach from the left than mere gratitude for a temporary resolution.
“Liew notes that about 48,000 of the up to 60,000 people who entered returned within a day and that nearly three dozen died. He calls Ceuta 'border porn' for the global far right, while Pedro Sánchez faces a 2027 election his right-wing opponents want to make a referendum on immigration.”
The Guardian
