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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to worry about large numbers of undocumented men arriving in Spain?

1000 replies

MaturingCheeseball · 30/07/2026 17:34

Thousands of young men from Morocco and beyond swimming to Spain. Spain obviously has encouraged the problem with their amnesty for existing migrants, but thousands more arriving with no means of support and undocumented is going to cause huge problems. Large numbers will no doubt be ultimately trying to reach the UK.

It’s harsh, but we cannot accept infinite numbers of men.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
32
mrshoho · 31/07/2026 10:48

Shakeoffyourchains · 31/07/2026 10:35

Interestingly, there has been an effort by various actors to loby the Trump administration to recognise Ceuta (and Melilla) as Moroccan territory, ever since Spain refused to allow the US to use its airspace during the Iran conflict.

Back March, just after spain closed their air space to the US, the AEI published an article that said that "Moroccans should gather, send bulldozers to the border, and then enter Ceuta and Melilla unarmed to raise the flag. Sánchez and the Spanish press bleat, but they have no grounds to act. Nor, for that matter, would NATO, even if Moroccan forces entered the towns to restore order and organise the dispatch of settlers across the Strait of Gibraltar and back to Spain."

While, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart submitted a report to the House stating that the US should recognise that Ceuta and Melilla are subject to longstanding Moroccan claims, and that the administration should encourage negotiations between Morocco and Spain over their future.

Makes you wonder...

Yes a lot more to this. I don't know how things will play out. I almost believe the Spanish government are ready to hand these places over to Morocco.

Paganpentacle · 31/07/2026 10:48

Erin1975 · 31/07/2026 10:42

Yes but the numbers reaching the UK are a fraction of those reaching Italy, Greece, France Spain etc. every single day.

And we are a fraction of the size.

Zippedydoobaah · 31/07/2026 10:54

CoffeeCantata · 31/07/2026 08:15

Oh, and I've noticed that in addition to the 'you're a racist xenophobe' line, there's always the 'but what about the nasty men already in the UK?'

Well, what about them? What have they got to do with anything? Just because we have rapists and already here, why would we want more?

Because rape and sexual violence towards women and children is just that, it shouldn't be viewed as worse if the perpetrator is darker in skin colour. This attitude is hugely damaging to the victims. Many of the "protect are women" mob have convictions themselves for VAW. But somehow they are so concerned about protecting women because the men aren't locals? There's something very underlying there, I think it's a subconscious fear that these newcomer men will be competitors.

Erin1975 · 31/07/2026 10:54

Paganpentacle · 31/07/2026 10:48

And we are a fraction of the size.

Not really.

Asylum applications last year. UK 82,000, EU over 1 million.

Population of EU is 452 million, UK is 70 million

EppingTrain · 31/07/2026 10:55

Zippedydoobaah · 31/07/2026 10:54

Because rape and sexual violence towards women and children is just that, it shouldn't be viewed as worse if the perpetrator is darker in skin colour. This attitude is hugely damaging to the victims. Many of the "protect are women" mob have convictions themselves for VAW. But somehow they are so concerned about protecting women because the men aren't locals? There's something very underlying there, I think it's a subconscious fear that these newcomer men will be competitors.

Per capita data you just ignore it? Data that shows migrant men do it more per capita?

Erin1975 · 31/07/2026 10:56

Paganpentacle · 31/07/2026 10:47

Its not though is it?
We are an island. It should be easy to secure out borders and send people away.
Australia manages it.

It's a lot harder to get to Australia. The channel is what 12 miles wide. To get to Australia by sea means a crossing of at least 100 miles.

LakieLady · 31/07/2026 10:56

noddysyellowhat · 30/07/2026 20:37

Another absurdity that has been somewhat lost in this debate is the existence of the Supreme Court altogether.
Until former Labour prime minister Tony Blair introduced this, Britain’s highest court, Parliament, was for hundreds of years the country’s supreme legal authority. Now, decisions made by elected representatives in Parliament and approved by the monarch can be undone by this unelected and anti-constitutional Supreme Court.😡

The "supreme legal authority" prior to the establishment of the Supreme Court was the unelected House of Lords.

At least the Supreme Court judges are all experienced and respected legal authorities, and they have to retire at 75.

Zippedydoobaah · 31/07/2026 10:57

EppingTrain · 31/07/2026 10:55

Per capita data you just ignore it? Data that shows migrant men do it more per capita?

I haven't said it should be ignored?

Cherrysoup · 31/07/2026 10:57

MaturingCheeseball · 30/07/2026 17:34

Thousands of young men from Morocco and beyond swimming to Spain. Spain obviously has encouraged the problem with their amnesty for existing migrants, but thousands more arriving with no means of support and undocumented is going to cause huge problems. Large numbers will no doubt be ultimately trying to reach the UK.

It’s harsh, but we cannot accept infinite numbers of men.

Really worrying, I’ve just been watching swarms of men running over! 700 illegal immigrants arrived in the Uk on small boats the day before yesterday. There was a news article with a British journalist asking French police why they were ignoring the small boats leaving. Police gave a typical Gallic shrug and looked away. It isn’t sustainable, but until the PM starts using the Navy or similar to deter these boats, nothing will change.

TaleOfTwoHalves · 31/07/2026 10:59

Why do we even have a Royal Navy? Is it just for show? My dad was a sailor btw so I’m not dissing the service itself. Madness we don’t utilise them.

EppingTrain · 31/07/2026 11:00

Zippedydoobaah · 31/07/2026 10:57

I haven't said it should be ignored?

You are like "white man bad too" and say migrants should be let in.

inamarina · 31/07/2026 11:00

friedaklein · 31/07/2026 09:10

Yes. Even in my immigrant community, people are concerned. I have changed my mind on this issue in recent years.

Those of us who followed the rules, contributed and assimilated- we are 'doctors and engineers' actually- are now being tarred with the same brush. Our men are indistinguishable from other men who didn't follow the rules, so they take the brunt. My local Sikh grocer- hardworking, employs some 10 people- is now getting racist abuse.

That said, I am still not voting Reform or Restore as I am not convinced they can solve this problem. Likely escalate hatred. It's a hard problem to solve.

Same. I’m also an immigrant and I used to be much more left-wing on the whole immigration issue, but that has changed in the last four to five years.

I know several other immigrants who feel the same way, and it has nothing to do with ‘pulling up the ladder’ as some people love to claim.

user1484056932 · 31/07/2026 11:00

Erin1975 · 31/07/2026 10:42

Yes but the numbers reaching the UK are a fraction of those reaching Italy, Greece, France Spain etc. every single day.

Forgetting the important difference that the UK is much smaller than France, Spain and Italy, England is overpopulated as it is without adding more to the problem.

moonraker0 · 31/07/2026 11:02

TaleOfTwoHalves · 31/07/2026 10:59

Why do we even have a Royal Navy? Is it just for show? My dad was a sailor btw so I’m not dissing the service itself. Madness we don’t utilise them.

Look how long it took Starmer to send the navy to Cyprus when Iran and America were bombing each other. Total embarrassment and worrying at the same time.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 31/07/2026 11:05

inamarina · 31/07/2026 11:00

Same. I’m also an immigrant and I used to be much more left-wing on the whole immigration issue, but that has changed in the last four to five years.

I know several other immigrants who feel the same way, and it has nothing to do with ‘pulling up the ladder’ as some people love to claim.

100% I live in a very diverse area, in a very friendly neighbourhood, all the children play together, our cultural values are similar, we had our yearly street party even brings a dish, immigrants settled here are not afraid to say that the people coming in are not good people, collected from prison or running from a criminal charges. If anything it is making life harder for them as mass immigration is fueling anger labelled as racism and it allows the real horrible racists say what they want. This is not good for anyone.

LuckyHazelFox · 31/07/2026 11:08

MaturingCheeseball · 31/07/2026 10:13

left-wing people by and large are not dog people. In the mornings I often pass this stringy couple out jogging. They always wear virtue-signalling t-shirts: “I’m running to end world hunger” (!) , “Run Green” and other (always green) t-shirts with similar slogans. The woman theatrically glares and shies away from Dog. He’s not in the least interested in them and doesn’t like eating green things anyway…

😆 🤣

LuckyHazelFox · 31/07/2026 11:11

Well all the time we have the do gooders calling us racist - the Southport killer has assaulted 3 prison staff. I'm sure there will be a thread about it soon. These choir boys manage to fool the gullible. What has it got to do with immigration I hear a leftie ask. Let's start with culture.

Paganpentacle · 31/07/2026 11:13

EppingTrain · 31/07/2026 10:55

Per capita data you just ignore it? Data that shows migrant men do it more per capita?

This.
The attitudes of certain demographics towards women are absolutely disgusting.
Why are we being subject to it??

EmeraldShamrock000 · 31/07/2026 11:15

Shakeoffyourchains · 31/07/2026 10:35

Interestingly, there has been an effort by various actors to loby the Trump administration to recognise Ceuta (and Melilla) as Moroccan territory, ever since Spain refused to allow the US to use its airspace during the Iran conflict.

Back March, just after spain closed their air space to the US, the AEI published an article that said that "Moroccans should gather, send bulldozers to the border, and then enter Ceuta and Melilla unarmed to raise the flag. Sánchez and the Spanish press bleat, but they have no grounds to act. Nor, for that matter, would NATO, even if Moroccan forces entered the towns to restore order and organise the dispatch of settlers across the Strait of Gibraltar and back to Spain."

While, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart submitted a report to the House stating that the US should recognise that Ceuta and Melilla are subject to longstanding Moroccan claims, and that the administration should encourage negotiations between Morocco and Spain over their future.

Makes you wonder...

This was my first thought too. I didn’t want to suggest it and be accused of being a conspiracy theorist.
America trying to wipe out oil refineries in Iran, stealing oil in the dark, confirmed by Trump. Shortly after his Venezuela invasion. Ukraine wiping out Russia’s oil refinery and army. Israel wiping out Gaza and Lebanon and Europe is eating itself from
the inside out, the left vs the right, it’s a shit show.

Paganpentacle · 31/07/2026 11:15

Erin1975 · 31/07/2026 10:56

It's a lot harder to get to Australia. The channel is what 12 miles wide. To get to Australia by sea means a crossing of at least 100 miles.

And?
We don't have to stand by and let them in.
They have no right to be here, no basis to be here.
Why the actual fuck do we have to
a/ tolerate it
b/support them ?

TaleOfTwoHalves · 31/07/2026 11:16

LuckyHazelFox · 31/07/2026 11:11

Well all the time we have the do gooders calling us racist - the Southport killer has assaulted 3 prison staff. I'm sure there will be a thread about it soon. These choir boys manage to fool the gullible. What has it got to do with immigration I hear a leftie ask. Let's start with culture.

We really do need the death penalty. Get him gone and save us all some tax.

LuckyHazelFox · 31/07/2026 11:17

TaleOfTwoHalves · 31/07/2026 11:16

We really do need the death penalty. Get him gone and save us all some tax.

That's too far right of us. These lovely people have now been looting in Spain.

Paganpentacle · 31/07/2026 11:17

Zippedydoobaah · 31/07/2026 10:54

Because rape and sexual violence towards women and children is just that, it shouldn't be viewed as worse if the perpetrator is darker in skin colour. This attitude is hugely damaging to the victims. Many of the "protect are women" mob have convictions themselves for VAW. But somehow they are so concerned about protecting women because the men aren't locals? There's something very underlying there, I think it's a subconscious fear that these newcomer men will be competitors.

It is worse... due to the fact that if they were not here, they wouldnt be raping.
They are allowed in, allowed access to women and girls they despite and treat like utter shit.
Its not about skin colour.

EppingTrain · 31/07/2026 11:18

Paganpentacle · 31/07/2026 11:13

This.
The attitudes of certain demographics towards women are absolutely disgusting.
Why are we being subject to it??

There is a big cohort on MN who will say "white man bad too"

Paganpentacle · 31/07/2026 11:19

EppingTrain · 31/07/2026 11:18

There is a big cohort on MN who will say "white man bad too"

Indeed there are.
We don't need to import any more, and pay for the privilege

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