There's an old saying in politics: timing is everything. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is making sure his colleagues feel the sting of that adage after a migrant surge into Spain's Ceuta enclave put border security back in the spotlight.
On Sunday, Massie took to X to point out that House Republicans passed a bill allocating $40 million to Morocco just two weeks before migrants from Morocco entered Spain's Ceuta enclave. He also flagged committee report language stating that the Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla are located in Moroccan territory.
The State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Massie's post included a screenshot of the committee report language, which reads: "Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla are located in Moroccan territory and remain the subject of Morocco's longstanding claim."
Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene quickly backed Massie's claim, posting that Republicans "paid $40 MILLION of your tax dollars to Morocco to invade Spain." She accused both parties of hypocrisy on border issues and criticized the "Uniparty" for prioritizing foreign interests while driving U.S. debt to $40 trillion.
What's In the Committee Report?
Massie cited H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, noting he was the only Republican to vote against it when it passed the House 217-209 on July 15. Most Democrats voted against it.
"Every Republican except me voted for it, but now THEY are acting shocked at the invasion," Massie wrote in another post.
His criticism targeted the House committee report accompanying the bill, not the bill's actual text. In a previous post, the Kentucky Rep highlighted the bill's "favorable language" for Morocco regarding the territory controlled by Spain.
The committee report cited by Massie says, "The Committee notes that the Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla are located in Moroccan territory."
However, the language that appears only in the report is not legally binding. The report does not state that the bill authorizes or supports a transfer of sovereignty, contrary to Massie's interpretation.
Trump Links Spain Crisis To US Border
Ceuta, Spain's enclave on Morocco's Mediterranean coast and one of the EU's few land borders with Africa, saw nearly 60,000 migrants cross into the territory within 24 hours starting on Thursday, triggering a military deployment, according to a Reuters report.
Most later returned to Morocco, while at least 67 people died during the crossing, according to the report.
The episode triggered political tensions across Europe, with 22 EU member states calling for stronger border controls, while Italy announced entry checks for non-EU arrivals from Spain.
President Donald Trump linked the surge of migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta to U.S. border security, warning that America could face a similar situation if Democrats return to power. He described the influx as an "invasion," while billionaire Elon Musk called the situation "crazy" and shared posts comparing the events to U.S. illegal immigration under former President Joe Biden.
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