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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:
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Ginmonkeyagain · 31/07/2026 15:09

@RodneyKitten Yes but the title of the thread is about them arriving in Spain - Ceuta is not in Spain - OP didn't mention that did they?

RodneyKitten · 31/07/2026 15:09

Ginmonkeyagain · 31/07/2026 15:08

It happened in Cueta - which while Spanish is not in Spain, it is in North Africa. There is a long history of Morocco "allowing" people to try and cross the border in to Cueta to annoy the Spanish plus the recent Supreme Court judgment has made things a bit febrile. Many has already been returned to Morocco.

Perhaps reflect on why some media outlets are keen for you to think this happened in mainland Europe and you are apparently eager to believe that.

At least they spell it properly.

Ginmonkeyagain · 31/07/2026 15:08

It happened in Cueta - which while Spanish is not in Spain, it is in North Africa. There is a long history of Morocco "allowing" people to try and cross the border in to Cueta to annoy the Spanish plus the recent Supreme Court judgment has made things a bit febrile. Many has already been returned to Morocco.

Perhaps reflect on why some media outlets are keen for you to think this happened in mainland Europe and you are apparently eager to believe that.

RodneyKitten · 31/07/2026 15:05

pointythings · 31/07/2026 15:00

The fact that these threads all have titles screaming about Spain but do not mention the fact that this is happening on the North coast of Africa makes me think they are not well intentioned or genuine. Because people aren't that stupid.

Be concerned by all means. But be honest. Doing it this way is just stoking hysteria and division.

OP very clearly mentioned Ceuta in their opening post.

I supposed you’ve missed it.

Happyjoe · 31/07/2026 15:05

Duvetdayneeded · 31/07/2026 13:27

It’s now documented to be about 49,000 and it is absolute fuck up for the UK as they are in the majority going to come to our country because we give them such a free ride. I Stress I don’t mind genuine asylum seekers, but these are economic immigrants and we are fucked. We need to cease almost all foreign aid because our country is going to the toilet.

How does stopping foreign aid stop migrants?

MandingoAteMyBaby · 31/07/2026 15:03

Duvetdayneeded · 31/07/2026 13:27

It’s now documented to be about 49,000 and it is absolute fuck up for the UK as they are in the majority going to come to our country because we give them such a free ride. I Stress I don’t mind genuine asylum seekers, but these are economic immigrants and we are fucked. We need to cease almost all foreign aid because our country is going to the toilet.

The majority do not come to the UK and we don’t give them any particular free ride compared to other countries.

pointythings · 31/07/2026 15:00

The fact that these threads all have titles screaming about Spain but do not mention the fact that this is happening on the North coast of Africa makes me think they are not well intentioned or genuine. Because people aren't that stupid.

Be concerned by all means. But be honest. Doing it this way is just stoking hysteria and division.

HoppingPavlova · 31/07/2026 15:00

BeanNaGealai · 31/07/2026 14:41

The UK could do the same thing in Northern Ireland then too. I'm sure the unionists would love to go back to the mainland.

Edited

I’m sure there are significantly more than likely 20/25K households this would apply to in NI, not the same🙄.

Vivi0 · 31/07/2026 15:00

Notcominhomenow · 31/07/2026 14:55

YABU because you don't live in Spain. We're not even in the EU now anyway so how would this affect you? Was it just seeing a large crowd of brown people that made you uneasy? Be honest.

Seeing 50,000 men of any skin tone, force their way into another country, with zero documentation of who they are, set things on fire and break into buildings and homes, would make anyone uneasy.

Notcominhomenow · 31/07/2026 14:55

YABU because you don't live in Spain. We're not even in the EU now anyway so how would this affect you? Was it just seeing a large crowd of brown people that made you uneasy? Be honest.

BeanNaGealai · 31/07/2026 14:52

Fredabasset · 31/07/2026 14:45

But they are now in a European country with more lax immigration laws.

How are they more lax? Plus Ceuta is not in Schengen so travel is not simple. And the chance of a Moroccan getting asylum in spain is tiny.

GrumpyPanda · 31/07/2026 14:52

Summerhillsquare · 31/07/2026 13:30

theres already a thread on this tiresome hysteria.

They're springing up like mushrooms. Reported one this morning that ranted about her "invasion of Spain". I wonder how much of it is bots.

Fredabasset · 31/07/2026 14:45

BeanNaGealai · 31/07/2026 14:39

But there are no closer to it, nor do they have an easier way to get there, than they did when they were in Morocco.

But they are now in a European country with more lax immigration laws.

BeanNaGealai · 31/07/2026 14:43

ColdAsAWitches · 31/07/2026 14:38

Coming to us soon unless we get someone in politics to stop this.

Really? You know that they got there by swimming round a fence? So a not particularly challenging entryway. It's a hell of a longer swim from there to Cornwall.

In fairness, it's a pretty tough swim. But yeah, not quite the same as swimming the channel between france and england

BeanNaGealai · 31/07/2026 14:41

HoppingPavlova · 31/07/2026 14:35

Supposedly Ceuta only has roughly 80K population, so maybe 20/25K households? If I was Spain I’d consider just giving Ceuta to Morocco, and giving current residents an option to be relocated with compensation to mainland Spain, or stay put and become Moroccan. Seems a cheaper option than fluffing about with 50K economic refugees.

The UK could do the same thing in Northern Ireland then too. I'm sure the unionists would love to go back to the mainland.

BeanNaGealai · 31/07/2026 14:39

Fredabasset · 31/07/2026 14:33

The same way every other illegal migrant gets there from Afghanistan, Sudan, and Syria, to name but a few places.

But there are no closer to it, nor do they have an easier way to get there, than they did when they were in Morocco.

ColdAsAWitches · 31/07/2026 14:38

Coming to us soon unless we get someone in politics to stop this.

Really? You know that they got there by swimming round a fence? So a not particularly challenging entryway. It's a hell of a longer swim from there to Cornwall.

Fredabasset · 31/07/2026 14:37

Violetdeparma · 31/07/2026 14:32

Wasn't there a court judgment that's prompted this ? Somerhing in technicalities that people who arrive by sea can't be returned ?

I think there was some kind of announcement that was misreported.

BeanNaGealai · 31/07/2026 14:37

Violetdeparma · 31/07/2026 14:32

Wasn't there a court judgment that's prompted this ? Somerhing in technicalities that people who arrive by sea can't be returned ?

Of course they can be returned. They just have to go through due process. Although there may have been a misunderstanding of the ruling by some.

Mymyi · 31/07/2026 14:36

YANBU. It's an invasion. I've seen footage of women in the town crying and saying they are scared to go outside. People are barricading their doors. People are (rightly) terrified. Coming to us soon unless we get someone in politics to stop this.

HoppingPavlova · 31/07/2026 14:35

Supposedly Ceuta only has roughly 80K population, so maybe 20/25K households? If I was Spain I’d consider just giving Ceuta to Morocco, and giving current residents an option to be relocated with compensation to mainland Spain, or stay put and become Moroccan. Seems a cheaper option than fluffing about with 50K economic refugees.

OneAmberFinch · 31/07/2026 14:35

Violetdeparma · 31/07/2026 14:33

One amber it's already happend across Europe and that was before merkel

Which is why I'm in favour of managed remigration policies too - and which I also think would be optimally done with pan-European cooperation (e.g., no visas to non-cooperating countries for the whole EU+UK)

Violetdeparma · 31/07/2026 14:33

One amber it's already happend across Europe and that was before merkel

Fredabasset · 31/07/2026 14:33

chirrupybird · 31/07/2026 14:30

And how do they get to France?

The same way every other illegal migrant gets there from Afghanistan, Sudan, and Syria, to name but a few places.