CEUTA, Spain – Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has strongly defended the Spanish government’s handling of the recent massive migration influx into Ceuta, praising Morocco’s cooperation while sharply criticizing Italy’s decision to suspend the Schengen agreement with Spain.
Marlaska orders the police to use force against the Spaniards who wanted to boo Sánchez
Speaking at a press conference alongside the Government Delegate in the autonomous city, Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, Marlaska characterized Italy’s stance as selfish, irresponsible, and unforgivable. He emphasized that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area, accusing Rome of acting in bad faith or ignorance for purely political purposes. The minister reminded observers of Spain’s past solidarity during migration challenges at Eastern European borders in 2021 and in Lampedusa, Italy, in 2023, suggesting that critics of Spain’s current response have very short memories.
In contrast, Marlaska highlighted that the situation in Ceuta was successfully reversed in just over 24 hours thanks to close coordination with Morocco. He described the neighboring country as an absolutely reliable partner and firmly rejected the notion that Morocco poses any threat to Ceuta or the rest of Spain. Furthermore, he underscored Spain’s broader success in reducing irregular immigration by 40 percent through proactive measures in transit countries, noting that nations like Italy and Greece are now attempting to emulate this strategy.
Marlaska dice que España ha revertido la crisis migratoria "sola", alaba a Marruecos y ve mala fe en Italia: "Ceuta no es Schengen" https://t.co/Z6VFbKeXwm
— 20minutos.es (@20m) August 1, 2026
Addressing questions about preparedness, the minister denied that state intelligence services had received any prior reports warning of the crisis that unfolded on July 30. While affirming that the government is working continuously to prevent a recurrence, he expressed absolute confidence that Spain possesses the necessary institutional muscle and resources to resolve any hypothetical future situations with the same rapid efficacy.
Italy Suspends Schengen Agreement with Spain
Blaming human trafficking networks for orchestrating the irregular entries, Marlaska stressed that individuals who cross into the country illegally have no path to regularization. He asserted that the vast majority of those who entered Ceuta on July 30 had already returned to Morocco within 24 hours. This rapid return, he explained, was driven primarily by the legitimate pressure of the state through reinforced police and military deployments, aided by the strategic closure of local businesses and establishments to discourage migrants from remaining in the city.
