Ceuta migrant deaths trigger Italy Schengen ban and EU clash
A sudden influx of migrants into Ceuta that left 72 dead has prompted Italy to suspend Schengen travel with Spain and reignited a bitter debate over Europe's border policies.
Tens of thousands of migrants swam into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on Thursday in an unprecedented maritime influx. Most have since been escorted back to Morocco by Spanish police and soldiers, but at least 72 people died, their bodies recovered from the sea alongside abandoned rubber rings and flippers.
The surge was driven by viral social media posts falsely promising an open door to Europe. Migrants showed reporters videos of people shouting "Spain is Open" while swimming in wetsuits. In reality, those who reached the shore found no food, shelter, or route to the continent, prompting a rapid retreat.
The tragedy has fractured European unity. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspended Italy's Schengen agreement with Spain, citing a security threat. Her party, Fratelli d'Italia, had previously posted images of the crowds with the caption: "This is the Sanchez model the Italian left wing likes so much."
Madrid views the move as a cynical political stunt ahead of Italian elections next year, where Meloni's coalition is losing ground to an anti-immigrant rival. Spain notes that Ceuta is outside the Schengen zone, meaning migrants could not have proceeded unchecked into mainland Europe.
Meloni's rhetoric has resonated beyond Rome. Nearly two dozen EU leaders signed her call for an urgent interior ministers' meeting on Tuesday to eliminate "pull factors". Their primary target is Spain's recent policy of regularizing hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers. Madrid considers this a pragmatic response to an ageing population and acute labour shortages, not an invitation for illegal border crossings.
External actors are actively exploiting the division. US President Donald Trump, angered by Spain's opposition to his war on Iran, labelled the event a "catastrophe" and an "invasion" ahead of his own election. Russia has also publicly gloated over the chaos, a familiar tactic designed to undermine European cohesion and distract from the war in Ukraine.
The origins of the social media campaign remain unclear. While Morocco blames criminal organisations, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is avoiding blaming Rabat, calling Morocco a "good ally" despite domestic criticism of appeasement. Spain is now extending its border fence into the sea with buoy lines, while random police checks temporarily disrupt travel from Spain to Italy.
