Commentary: Why the images of Ceuta are so dangerous
The rush of tens of thousands of migrants provides images that right-wing extremists have been wishing for. To pre-empt them, EU government leaders are attacking Spain. This is as transparent as it is brazen.
The issue of migration is a powerful one, often used to stoke fear. Fear of the stranger, of a flood of jobless destitutes infiltrating social systems. This narrative is championed by right-wing extremists. Consequently, images of Ceuta are dangerously provocative. A staggering 50,000 migrants crowd Ceuta, cling to rocky outcrops, and persevere on hilltops, fueling this narrative.
Consequently, numerous government leaders were quick to criticize Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday. Some, like Donald Trump, sought to justify their own hardline migration policies. Others, like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, aimed to outdo rivals on the right. The Italian leader even advocated, similar to her peers in Finland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Austria, for suspending the Schengen Agreement with Spain.
However, no migrant from Ceuta has yet reached European soil. The city is only accessible by ferry or helicopter; travelers' documents are rigorously checked.
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