On July 30, around 60,000 migrants crossed the border between Morocco and Spain, sparking violent clashes. Tens of thousands stormed the border between the Moroccan port town of Beni Enzar and the Spanish autonomous city of Melilla, effectively entering Europe through the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
TalkTV presenter Alex Phillips became visibly emotional on air while watching footage of the clashes. Tearfully reflecting on the immigration issue in Europe and the UK, she said: "The political elite are watching it. They're enabling it in real time, and I don't know how this stuff is revered. I'm 42 and...I know that that's it. That my country, my continent, my civilisation, my freedoms, my way of life my safety, my ability to walk around the streets where I grew up freely - I know it's over. I know it's over because of what's going on and what's happening. And we're watching it in real time. This is war, and this is being conducted by hostile states. I cannot wrap my head around how we have a government, frankly, successive governments - not just in the United Kingdom, but across the West...who for some reason that I just cannot fathom at the very least are turning a blind eye to this. At worst, they are actually complicit."
Clearly distressed, she insisted: "We should take nobody [from] anywhere....We need to declare a national emergency!"
Italy suspends Schengen with Spain
In light of the incident, Italy temporarily suspended the European Union's border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain. The Italian Ministry of the Interior ordered the closure of sea and air borders with Spain.
The Schengen Area allows passport-free travel across 29 European countries by removing border controls between the participating states.
Spanish official criticises EU reaction
EU members have been plunged into a war of words as a Spanish official branded the reaction of some members of the bloc to the massive Ceuta migrant crossings as "selfish, polarising and unlawful".
Trump condemns migrant 'invasion'
US President Donald Trump raged at the incident, describing it as a migrant "invasion" into Spain. Speaking to Fox News on Friday, he pointed to images of thousands of migrants reaching Ceuta and used them to reinforce his longstanding calls for tougher border controls.
"It's terrible. Remember that picture. That's going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in," Trump said. "If the Democrats get in, you will not live a very good life."
