Massie Accuses GOP of Hypocrisy Over Ceuta Crisis
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Representative Thomas Massie accused fellow Republicans of hypocrisy on Saturday, arguing that congressional lawmakers expressing outrage over a massive migrant surge in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta recently supported language in a committee report that appeared sympathetic to Morocco 's claims over the territory.
The criticism highlights an unexpected intersection between U.S. legislative processes and an international migration crisis. As Republican leaders in Washington, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, pointed to images of tens of thousands of migrants entering Ceuta as a warning about weak borders, Massie contended that his colleagues had previously backed language that appeared sympathetic to Morocco's position on Ceuta and neighboring Melilla.
Newsweek reached out to Massie, the State Department, the House Appropriations Committee Republicans, and the Spanish and Moroccan embassies in Washington, DC for comment on Saturday.
Related Story Donald Trump Seizes on Spain Migrant Crisis. But Will Voters Listen? What Massie Said In a post on X, Massie wrote on Saturday:
"Don't fall for the fake Fox/GOP outrage. Two weeks ago the House passed a bill that greenlighted the transfer of Spanish territory to Morocco. Every Republican except me voted for it, but now THEY are acting shocked at the invasion."
Massie referenced H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027. The Kentucky Republican was the sole GOP lawmaker to vote against the legislation, which passed the House on July 15 in a 217-209 vote. Most Democrats opposed the measure.
Massie's argument centers on language contained in a House Appropriations Committee report accompanying the legislation.
The report states: "The Committee notes that the Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla are located in Moroccan territory and remain the subject of Morocco's longstanding claim."
It continues: "The Committee supports efforts by the Secretary of State to encourage diplomatic engagement between Morocco and Spain on the future status of Ceuta and Melilla."
The language appears in the report's section on Morocco, rather than in the text of H.R. 8595 itself. The language is notable because it describes the Spanish-administered cities as being "located in Moroccan territory," wording that aligns with Morocco's longstanding claim to Ceuta and Melilla.
However, the language appears in a committee report rather than the bill text itself. Committee reports can signal congressional views and priorities, but they do not themselves alter sovereignty, transfer territory, or change international borders.
That distinction is central to evaluating Massie's claim that Congress "greenlighted the transfer" of Spanish territory to Morocco.
While the report does not endorse transferring sovereignty, it not only describes Ceuta and Melilla as being "located in Moroccan territory" but also expresses support for diplomatic engagement on their "future status," language critics could view as sympathetic to Morocco's position.
Ceuta, situated on Morocco's Mediterranean coast, is administered by Spain and forms one of the European Union's few land borders with Africa.
The region plunged into crisis after roughly 50,000 migrants crossed into the enclave on Thursday, prompting the deployment of Spanish military units. Juan Jesús Vivas, head of the Ceuta regional government, described the situation as "absolutely unsustainable."
Spanish authorities later reported that the flow had largely reversed, with more than 48,000 migrants returning to Morocco. Officials confirmed that at least 67 people died during the surge, with some drowning and others crushed while attempting to cross.
Trump characterized the scenes as "terrible," while Vance called the footage "an unfortunate reminder of the consequences of mass migration." The State Department stated it stood with Spain against an "egregious violation" of sovereignty.
Other conservative figures echoed those concerns. Senator Eric Schmitt and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller argued the events illustrated the dangers of permissive immigration policies. In Europe, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni similarly pointed to the surge as a threat to continental security.
Related Story In Pictures: How Wave of Migrants Is Crossing Into Ceuta by Sea Spain and Morocco's Dispute The political sensitivity of Ceuta extends far beyond migration since Morocco has never accepted Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla and frequently refers to them as occupied territories.
The issue has repeatedly strained relations between Spain and Morocco.
A previous crisis in 2021 saw roughly 8,000 people enter Ceuta after Morocco relaxed border controls amid tensions with Spain over Western Sahara. Although Spain moved closer to Morocco's position on Western Sahara in 2022, disputes over the enclaves have never completely disappeared.
That history makes the committee report language cited by Massie particularly noteworthy.
While the report does not endorse transferring sovereignty, critics could argue that describing Ceuta and Melilla as "located in Moroccan territory" and discussing their "future status" implicitly supports Morocco's claims. Supporters might counter that the language merely acknowledges the existence of a longstanding dispute and encourages diplomacy between Spain and Morocco.
Contact Newsweek editor for this story: Anthony Murray .
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