Argentine President Javier Milei has accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, without providing evidence, of seeking to naturalise migrants who entered Ceuta so they could vote for him.

“In Spain’s case, Sánchez uses those immigrants to naturalise them, have them vote for him and perpetuate his tyranny,” Milei said during an interview broadcast by Argentine television channel LN+ on Sunday, 2 August.

Milei provided no evidence that Sánchez or his government planned to grant the recent arrivals Spanish nationality for electoral purposes.

The allegation conflicts with Spain’s published citizenship and electoral rules. Entering Ceuta irregularly does not confer Spanish nationality or the right to vote in national elections.

Under the general route to citizenship, applicants must have lived in Spain legally and continuously for 10 years immediately before applying. Only residence permits or other authorisations recognised under immigration law count towards that period.

Shorter qualifying periods apply in specified circumstances, including for recognised refugees and nationals of certain countries, but none amounts to automatic naturalisation following an irregular border crossing.

Spanish citizens may vote in general elections. Some non-citizen residents have limited voting rights in municipal or European Parliament elections, depending on their nationality and registration status, but they cannot vote in Spanish general elections.

Spain has separately operated an extraordinary programme offering residence and work status to undocumented migrants already living in the country. Residency is not citizenship and does not confer national voting rights.

The programme required applicants to prove that they were living in Spain before 1 January 2026 and had completed five consecutive months of residence when applying. People who entered Ceuta during the latest crossing therefore did not become eligible merely by reaching the enclave.

More than 50,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta by land and sea after the movement began on Thursday, 30 July, according to Spanish officials. More than 48,000 returned to Morocco within 48 hours, and Spanish authorities said nearly all the arrivals had since left the territory.

Spanish officials said at least 72 people died during the crossings, including people who drowned or were crushed while attempting to climb a breakwater and border fence. More than 1,000 people received medical treatment.

Morocco’s Interior Ministry separately reported 11 deaths, most caused by drowning, and said it was checking reports of additional fatalities on the Spanish side.

US President Donald Trump had earlier described the scenes in Ceuta as an “invasion” and used them to warn American voters about immigration before the US midterm elections.

“If we’re not in office, our country will be invaded at levels that made Spain look small time,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting on Friday.

Four days before Milei’s interview, Argentina published an emergency decree allowing authorities to deny entry to or expel foreigners who incite hatred or violence against Argentines because of their nationality, or who desecrate national symbols. The decree explicitly excludes legitimate political, academic and public criticism.

Spanish authorities have reinforced police and military patrols in Ceuta and installed a 500-metre floating barrier near the Tarajal breakwater. Crossings had largely stopped by Sunday, although recovery operations continued along the coast.