Spain's Pedro Sánchez was a hero of migrants. After Ceuta, he faces his biggest challenge

Analysis Europe Spain's Pedro Sánchez was a hero of migrants. After Ceuta, he faces his biggest challenge August 1, 20262:33 PM ET By  Miguel Macias ,  Ruth Sherlock A migrant walks along a rocky shoreline near the border with Morocco after swimming towards Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on July 31, 2026. Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images SEVILLE, Spain — When Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stood in front of the media on Friday in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave bordering Morocco, he followed a routine that he has spent years perfecting: rally his supporters, then reclaim control of the narrative. World Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Spanish territory from Morocco this week By Saturday morning, the Spanish government had declared the situation under control, with the army mobilized in the region and the installation of a 500-meter floating barrier off its border with Morocco. Sánchez sent a letter to European counterparts calling some of them out for "attacking Spain." But the damage was already done: images of tens of thousands of migrants crossing into Spanish territory from Morocco went around the world, eliciting comments from anti-immigration foreign leaders. U.S. President Trump called the crossing of migrants into Ceuta a "catastrophe" and an "invasion," blaming what he called "weak" and "very liberal" laws in Spain. The U.S. State Department even posted on social media blaming the crisis on Sánchez's migration-friendly policies. Sponsor Message Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, said the crisis in Spain showed the "threat" irregular migration presents to European security and even temporarily suspended Italy's open-border Schengen agreement with Spain, reimposing border controls for air and sea for travelers coming from the country. In Spain, Sánchez's political opponents also seized on the opportunity. The far-right VOX party, which has increased its presenc...