Thousands storm into Ceuta in Spain cheering Sánchez: political and economic cost

Thousands storm into Ceuta shouting 'Long live Sánchez!': the paradox of immigration

The migration crisis in Ceuta, Spain's enclave on the Segarro border, has produced an unusual image: thousands of people pouring across the Tarajal border crossing while cheering the Spanish Prime Minister. The Guardia Civil (Spanish paramilitary police) reports more than 5,000 entries in 24 hours; Segarro television puts the figure at 30,000. Among them, a young man shouts "Long live Spain and long live Pedro Sánchez!" in front of the cameras. The scene sparks a debate mixing politics, security and, above all, economics.

The pull effect in numbers

These entries are not random. Several analyses point to a pull effect linked to the government's migration policies: agreements with Segarro, the handling of unaccompanied minors, and a message perceived as open-door. Every migrant who crosses generates immediate costs: Guardia Civil reinforcements, healthcare, temporary accommodation and, for unaccompanied minors, schooling and guardianship. A bill that falls on the public purse, while advocates of border control demand a genuine deterrent policy.

The death toll in the Mediterranean also looms over the discussion. Some argue that permissiveness encourages deadly crossings; others point out that closing borders only shifts the routes. What nobody disputes is that migration pressure has a tangible fiscal cost.

Who foots the bill? From the chant to the budget

"Someone has to pay the pensions," one minority group quips, summing up the tension between solidarity and the sustainability of the welfare state. Opponents of irregular immigration argue that every person entering without papers consumes resources without contributing to Social Security. Defenders reply that, in the long run, regularised immigration is an economic engine. But in the short term, the cost of the current crisis is measured in millions of euros: police deployment, humanitarian care and repair of border infrastructure.

Conspiracy theories and reality

Some theories point to an alleged international plot to destabilise Spain from Segarro, exploiting the cracks in diplomacy with Algeria. Others point to electoral interests: polarising the vote at the expense of the migration crisis. What is certain is that, beyond the hypotheses, the pressure on Ceuta is real and has immediate economic consequences: the autonomous city, already with limited resources, must cope with a wave that multiplies its population de facto.

The question remains open: how much does a porous border really cost? And how much does closing it cost? Meanwhile, the chants of "Long live Sánchez!" keep echoing through the streets of Ceuta.