The unprecedented influx into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco has alarmed political establishments across Europe. For politicians opposed to immigration, the episode was a godsend to bolster their arguments against immigration and reinforce a long-standing narrative. While Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast are part of the EU, they operate under a special external border regime. AdvertisementSpain remains particularly vulnerable to Moroccan pressure because of the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. A similar episode unfolded in 2021, when around 8,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta after Spain allowed a Polisario leader to receive medical treatment in Spain.