Feijóo takes the migratory crisis in Ceuta to the national security arena and asks to deploy the Army

The Popular Party has launched a coordinated offensive against Pedro Sánchez over the migratory crisis in Ceuta. Alberto Núñez Feijóo has demanded the closure of the border, the mobilization of the Army and the declaration of a situation of interest for National Security given the arrival of some 1,500 people during the last week.

The popular leader has described what happened as an "unprecedented avalanche" and has assured that the State Security Forces and Corps are "overwhelmed". His intervention increases pressure on the Government after the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, called for a coordinated state response and a single command.

Feijóo believes that the situation affects Spanish sovereignty and an external border of the European Union. He has also accused the Executive of refusing to recognize the seriousness of what happened and has asked for action before the number of deaths increases or the reception system completely collapses.

The crisis has hit a city of just over 80,000 inhabitants with particular harshness. Vivas estimates that around 1,500 people arrived during the last week, while resources for adults and minors have been overwhelmed and hundreds of migrants are waiting to be identified and attended to.

Feijóo calls for closing the border and mobilizing the Army

The president of the PP has asked Sánchez to "immediately" activate article 23 of the National Security Law. His proposal includes declaring the situation of interest for National Security, closing the border, mobilizing the Army and reinforcing diplomatic efforts with Morocco and the European Union.

"The Government cannot look the other way, it has to recognize the emergency," Feijóo stated. The popular leader has also warned that "we cannot wait for more deaths" and has demanded to regain control of the border immediately.

The invocation of article 23 needs some clarifications. The National Security Law allows the President of the Government to declare, by royal decree, a situation that requires reinforced coordination of administrations. This mechanism is developed with the ordinary powers of the State and does not in itself imply the closure of a border or the automatic deployment of the Armed Forces.

The PP leadership has supported Feijóo's demand and has presented the crisis as a situation anticipated by the party. Génova maintains that its leader warned 15 days ago of what could happen and claims the proposition registered in Congress to reform the special regime of Ceuta and Melilla.

The initiative aims to extend border rejections to people intercepted during an attempted entry by sea. The Supreme Court has recently established that the current tenth additional provision of the Immigration Law does not allow this mechanism to be automatically applied to those who arrive by swimming.

In these cases, the return procedure must be used, which requires identifying each person and individually studying their circumstances. Any reform will have to preserve the right to request international protection, the prohibition of collective expulsions, and the specific guarantees for minors and vulnerable people.

Tellado accuses the Government of "dereliction of duty"

Miguel Tellado has led the PP's second front against Moncloa. The party's secretary general has accused the Government of "dereliction of duty" and has assured that Sánchez has neglected his responsibilities in immigration and border control.

"What is happening in Ceuta is a full-blown migratory crisis," Tellado stated. According to the data used by the popular leader, around 200 people have arrived daily in recent weeks and reception services are well above their ordinary capacity.

Tellado insisted that the Government received sufficient warnings and directly linked the current saturation to its actions. "If it is not willing to assume its responsibilities, what it has to do is make way for another Government of Spain that will assume them," he declared.

The offensive has extended to other party officials. MEP Dolors Montserrat has accused Sánchez of losing control of a European border and has linked the arrivals to the extraordinary regularization promoted by the Government, although she has not provided data to prove a direct relationship between both events.

Deputy Ana Vázquez has disseminated images of the swimming entries and has demanded "border rejections and back to Morocco." From Andalusia, the spokesperson for the regional government, Carolina España, has advocated for a reform of the Immigration Law and greater action in the countries of origin.

The PP's toughening coincides on several points with the demands of the far-right Vox, especially regarding border closure, army deployment, and immediate returns. Feijóo has avoided the xenophobic accusations launched by Santiago Abascal, who has spoken of an "invasion," defined migrants as "hitmen," and linked them without proof to future rapes and stabbings.

The Government has rejected the declaration requested under civil protection regulations because migratory flows are not among the risks contemplated by that legislation. The Interior Ministry maintains that several ministries are already working in a coordinated manner to reinforce the border, assist arriving individuals, and alleviate pressure on Ceuta.

Spain and Morocco have agreed to intensify surveillance and streamline return procedures applicable to individuals who have entered irregularly. These returns must be processed in accordance with the law and through individual examination of each case, especially when there are minors, potential asylum seekers, or vulnerable persons.

The police union JUPOL has also demanded urgent reinforcements, more material resources, and changes to the Immigration Law. Its representatives describe the agents stationed in Ceuta as "at their limit" due to the accumulation of identifications, custodies, files, and public safety operations.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska will travel this Friday to Ceuta to meet with Vivas, the Government Delegation and the heads of the National Police and the Civil Guard. The minister will have to specify there the reinforcements and extraordinary measures while the PP keeps its parliamentary offensive against Sánchez open.