Social media push fuels massive migrant influx into Spanish enclave of Ceuta

Spain's Supreme Court ruled on July 29 that migrants who reach Ceuta by sea cannot be summarily sent back to Morocco, requiring full legal processing. Within days, the nuance was distorted online, with new social-media pages announcing that Spain had "opened the way" for sea arrivals and that returns were no longer possible. Accounts on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp posted daily appeals, logistical tips, and images of successful swimmers, while smuggling groups in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia spread the messages further.

Vendors responded by advertising swimming equipment and inflatable boats, and groups of young people began assembling at Ceuta's gates, leading to a peak crossing on July 28 and a subsequent surge that left at least 67 bodies recovered. The campaign featured a viral photo of Farah, a Moroccan swimmer, and also circulated fabricated AI-generated videos. Moroccan rights groups condemned the exodus, while far-right users on X blamed Morocco and the United States, linking the crisis to Spain's stance on the Gaza conflict and U.S. military basing requests.