Declassified intelligence and security documents reveal that Spain's government was warned at least 18 times about potential mass migrant crossings into Ceuta before tens of thousands of people entered the North African enclave from Morocco.
The disclosure of these 40 declassified documents on Wednesday comes despite previous assertions by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Sánchez had told parliament when announcing the declassification that there was no information conveying the true magnitude of the crisis that unfolded on July 30 and 31.
Among the declassified materials is a document from CENIF, the border division of the National Police, issued just before more than 70,000 migrants arrived in the Spanish territory. The CENIF report noted that internal communications within migrant groups showed attempts to organize mass entries on the night of July 29, 2026. Additionally, CENIF reported that nearly 1,000 people had swum from Morocco to Ceuta between July 1 and July 28, representing a sharp upward trend and a consolidated, priority threat.
Further warnings came from the National Intelligence Centre, which issued an urgent memo on the afternoon of July 29. The intelligence agency flagged multiple calls to coordinate border crossings in Facebook groups, including one group boasting more than 160,000 members. Spain's public broadcaster, RTVE, analyzed the documents and confirmed the government received at least 18 separate alerts regarding potential mass crossings.
Defending his administration's response, Sánchez posted on social media platform X on Wednesday, maintaining that no competent body in Spain or the European Union could have anticipated the exact magnitude of the migration crisis with the information available at the time. He also emphasized that none of the documents provided solid evidence that Moroccan authorities planned or directed the border breach.
However, questions surrounding Morocco's involvement have persisted, intensified by a leaked police report last week pointing to "permissiveness" on the part of Moroccan security forces. In contrast, a declassified military intelligence document from midday on July 30 suggested it was highly likely that Moroccan authorities did not actively encourage the influx, but rather acted in a negligent and passive manner.
Spain's political opposition has seized on the revelations, accusing Sánchez's government of failing to act despite the repeated warnings. Opposition leaders also criticized the administration for defending Morocco, which they contend was ultimately behind the mass border crossings.
The government declassified the documents amid questions over Rabat's role in the events and whether the Spanish government had been warned of the likelihood of mass entries.
With additional reporting by The Local Spain's Alex Dunham
