Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be deeply concerned about the recent influx of 30k+ undocumented arrivals in Spain?

736 replies

ChirpyUmberBiscuit · 31/07/2026 13:17

AIBU to feel really unsettled by the recent news coming out of Spain and Ceuta? Reports are showing that tens of thousands of undocumented migrants have crossed over in such a short window, completely overwhelming local infrastructure, reception centers, and security forces.

I know migration is always a sensitive and compassionate topic, but looking at these numbers practically, I don't see how any European border region can absorb 30,000 to 50,000 arrivals almost overnight without severe strain on public resources, local housing, and emergency services.

What worries me even more is the precedent it sets for the rest of Europe and the UK down the line. Surely there has to be a firm balance between humanitarian support and actual, enforceable border control?

Am I being completely unreasonable to view this as a serious policy and security crisis, or are others feeling equally concerned about where this leads?

Would love to hear honest thoughts on how this should actually be handled!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Batrat · 01/08/2026 12:10

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 12:09

Oh how strange… because I remember way back in another thread where you said you were happy to sacrifice British women and children’s safety to accommodate those breaking into the UK via small boats! Yup I would say you definitely are an extreme leftist! Unfortunately I cannot take anything you say seriously after that!

That’s shocking, the far left are utterly wicked.

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 12:09

saraclara · 01/08/2026 12:07

Extreme leftist?! I have no idea where you get that from 😂

I'm a retired teacher who gets wound up by ignorance. Right now I want geography to have a much higher priority in schools 😅

Oh how strange… because I remember way back in another thread where you said you were happy to sacrifice British women and children’s safety to accommodate those breaking into the UK via small boats! Yup I would say you definitely are an extreme leftist! Unfortunately I cannot take anything you say seriously after that!

Batrat · 01/08/2026 12:08

Na, nothing to be concerned about. This reminds me of those far right Anglo Saxons and Britons worried about 7000 Normans coming over in 1066.

saraclara · 01/08/2026 12:08

RodneyKitten · 01/08/2026 12:06

And they have already broken into Ceuta.

From where they're unable to reach mainland Spain.

saraclara · 01/08/2026 12:07

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 12:04

Again, the Italian and French governments are concerned enough to tighten their border security. I am not listening to some extreme leftist on MN!

Extreme leftist?! I have no idea where you get that from 😂

I'm a retired teacher who gets wound up by ignorance. Right now I want geography to have a much higher priority in schools 😅

RodneyKitten · 01/08/2026 12:06

RodneyKitten · 01/08/2026 12:05

Have you seen any of the interviews with them?

They do say they want to go to Spain for a better life and more money.

And they have already broken into Ceuta.

RodneyKitten · 01/08/2026 12:05

saraclara · 01/08/2026 12:03

That 60,000 will not be breaking into any mainland European countries, and never would have! They were literally one mile from where they were the day before. With no way of getting away from Ceuta.

Have you seen any of the interviews with them?

They do say they want to go to Spain for a better life and more money.

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 12:04

saraclara · 01/08/2026 12:03

That 60,000 will not be breaking into any mainland European countries, and never would have! They were literally one mile from where they were the day before. With no way of getting away from Ceuta.

Again, the Italian and French governments are concerned enough to tighten their border security. I am not listening to some extreme leftist on MN!

saraclara · 01/08/2026 12:03

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 12:00

Oh seriously get a grip! Nobody wants 60,000 men breaking into their country! Pandering…propaganda…. What a load of shite!

That 60,000 will not be breaking into any mainland European countries, and never would have! They were literally one mile from where they were the day before. With no way of getting away from Ceuta.

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 12:01

Violetdeparma · 01/08/2026 11:57

@Flyingintotheunknown concerned or confused ? If confused and the teams around them I think they should step down ?

Concerned

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 12:00

saraclara · 01/08/2026 11:58

The Italian and French were pandering to the ignorant in their own countries. It was propaganda to appeal those voters being drawn to right wing parties, and nothing else. And they've been rightly criticised for it.

Edited

Oh seriously get a grip! Nobody wants 60,000 men breaking into their country! Pandering…propaganda…. What a load of shite!

saraclara · 01/08/2026 11:58

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:55

Well the Italian and French have tightened their border security so they are obviously rather concerned.

The Italian and French were pandering to the ignorant in their own countries. It was propaganda to appeal those voters being drawn to right wing parties, and nothing else. And they've been rightly criticised for it.

Violetdeparma · 01/08/2026 11:57

@Flyingintotheunknown concerned or confused ? If confused and the teams around them I think they should step down ?

Greenleavesandsunshine · 01/08/2026 11:56

BeanNaGealai · 01/08/2026 11:51

Or perhaps they are placating the right wing electorate in their countries in the same way the UK did when it called a referendum on brexit.

Denmark and Finland do not have rightwing electorates.

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:55

BeanNaGealai · 01/08/2026 11:53

I have never argued they won’t attempt to get to the UK. I have said I don’t think they are any more likely to attempt to get to the UK or more likely to succeed in doing so just because they have crossed in to Spanish territory.

Well the Italian and French have tightened their border security so they are obviously rather concerned.

BeanNaGealai · 01/08/2026 11:53

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:51

I’m not daft I know where they would need to get to! However, you’re hell bent on arguing that they are definitely not going to attempt to get here! Like I said on another post, if Italy and France are worried enough to tighten their border security then it shows they are also concerned. I don’t think they will care about what people on MN say about “oh well they would have to travel from africa”. The leaders of France and Italy are concerned and rightly so!

I have never argued they won’t attempt to get to the UK. I have said I don’t think they are any more likely to attempt to get to the UK or more likely to succeed in doing so just because they have crossed in to Spanish territory.

Violetdeparma · 01/08/2026 11:53

I'm finding the dismissive comments saying "it's not even Spain * quite odd when many EU leaders are saying its unacceptable and calling for borders to be closed. Are we saying all those leaders including chief EU lady are all really thick as well and don't realise this place is in Africa ?

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:52

BeanNaGealai · 01/08/2026 11:51

Or perhaps they are placating the right wing electorate in their countries in the same way the UK did when it called a referendum on brexit.

🥱

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:52

saraclara · 01/08/2026 11:41

But these people are no more likely to cross that water than they were when they were a mile down the north African coast the day before they swam around the border!

So on this map, they were no threat at the green ticked location, but at the red cross location they're all going to end up in the UK and the sky will fall on our heads?

(I'm not sure whether they swam around the border there or by the southern border of the peninsula, but you get my drift)

Again, if Italy and France are worried enough to tighten their borders then that speaks volumes. I’d rather listen to them than the lefties on here who are always in complete denial

BeanNaGealai · 01/08/2026 11:51

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:34

Also, I don’t mean to be rude, but if Italy have tightened their borders and have restricted free movement from Spain… and France are also going to tighten their border security, then I think the leaders of both those countries will know a little bit more than you, enough to be concerned about them coming overseas into mainland Europe!

Or perhaps they are placating the right wing electorate in their countries in the same way the UK did when it called a referendum on brexit.

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:51

BeanNaGealai · 01/08/2026 11:43

But they would still have to get to continental Europe first. It is no easier for them to do that now than it was last week before

Edited

I’m not daft I know where they would need to get to! However, you’re hell bent on arguing that they are definitely not going to attempt to get here! Like I said on another post, if Italy and France are worried enough to tighten their border security then it shows they are also concerned. I don’t think they will care about what people on MN say about “oh well they would have to travel from africa”. The leaders of France and Italy are concerned and rightly so!

BeanNaGealai · 01/08/2026 11:43

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:24

I’m sure you are correct. But you do realise some of them may try to board ferries, ships etc like they have done for many, many years. Small boat crossing via the cannel isn’t the only method. Before that they were coming on ferries and Lorries.

But they would still have to get to continental Europe first. It is no easier for them to do that now than it was last week before

saraclara · 01/08/2026 11:41

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:24

I’m sure you are correct. But you do realise some of them may try to board ferries, ships etc like they have done for many, many years. Small boat crossing via the cannel isn’t the only method. Before that they were coming on ferries and Lorries.

But these people are no more likely to cross that water than they were when they were a mile down the north African coast the day before they swam around the border!

So on this map, they were no threat at the green ticked location, but at the red cross location they're all going to end up in the UK and the sky will fall on our heads?

(I'm not sure whether they swam around the border there or by the southern border of the peninsula, but you get my drift)

AIBU to be deeply concerned about the recent influx of 30k+ undocumented arrivals in Spain?
Puzzledandpissedoff · 01/08/2026 11:36

I wonder how many more times we're going to hear that they've mostly gone back, and how accurate thhat is?

On looking it up it seems this came from the Spanish Interior Ministry, who like most bureaucrats have a vested interest in claiming to have a handle on whatever's gone wrong, whether it's so or not

I don't pretend to know either way, but endless repetition of a claim doesn't mean it's true

Flyingintotheunknown · 01/08/2026 11:34

BeanNaGealai · 01/08/2026 10:55

Getting to the UK from France by small boat is significantly easier than getting there from Northern Africa. They are in Northern Africa.

They cannot get to Europe any easier today than they could have gotten to Europe last week before they crossed the border. They are not on the European continent.

Also, I don’t mean to be rude, but if Italy have tightened their borders and have restricted free movement from Spain… and France are also going to tighten their border security, then I think the leaders of both those countries will know a little bit more than you, enough to be concerned about them coming overseas into mainland Europe!