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Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Tag: spain
August 29, 2025
Immigration
News

Open Borders Kill: At Least 49 Dead After Migrant Boat Capsizes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A boat carrying migrants towards Europe capsized off the coast of Mauritania, leaving at least 49 dead and around 100 missing.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The passengers were primarily Gambian and Senegalese nationals attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on August 26, approximately 37 miles north of Nouakchott, Mauritania.

🎯IMPACT: The drownings highlight the dangerousness of Europe’s permissive attitude towards illegal immigration, encouraging migrants to make hazardous journeys in the knowledge that they are unlikely to be detained and deported once they arrive.

IN FULL

At least 49 migrants have died and around 100 more are missing after a dugout canoe capsized off the coast of Mauritania while heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands, a key gateway for illegal immigration into Europe. Mauritanian coastguards confirmed that 17 individuals were rescued, and search operations are still underway.

The vessel, which survivors say departed from Gambia six days earlier, was carrying approximately 160 migrants, primarily Gambian and Senegalese nationals, when it overturned off Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital. According to coastguard officials, the boat capsized late Tuesday night after passengers, spotting lights from a nearby coastal town, moved to one side, causing the vessel to destabilize and flip.

The incident occurred along the increasingly trafficked and notoriously deadly Atlantic migration route from West Africa to the Canary Islands. This route has become one of the most popular and dangerous paths to Europe. More than half of migrant deaths worldwide result from drowning during illegal sea crossings, with the Canary Islands route accounting for a significant portion of those fatalities.

This incident highlights the threat to life posed by Europe’s permissive attitude towards illegal immigration, with the knowledge that they are unlikely to be detained and deported once they arrive, encouraging many migrants to embark on hazardous journeys.

Notably, the West African migration route to the Canary Islands has seen a dramatic rise recently. In 2024, illegal immigration along this route surged by 541 percent over a two-month period, overwhelming local Spanish authorities.

Image by Sebastián Losada.

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July 15, 2025
Immigration
News

This European Country Wants Trump-Style Mass Deportations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll shows that 70 percent of Spaniards support the deportation of illegal immigrants, including majorities among left-wing voters.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The poll was conducted by Sigma Dos for the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, with responses reflecting support from voters across party lines.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The poll was recently conducted in Spain, amid increasing concerns over illegal immigration and its societal impacts.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The enormous complexity of immigration policy and the failure of the formulas implemented to try to regulate it have become a major problem for countries like Spain.” – El Mundo

🎯IMPACT: The poll results highlight a growing shift in favor of stricter immigration policies.

IN FULL

A recent Sigma Dos poll commissioned by Spanish media reveals that a significant majority of Spanish citizens, 70 percent, support the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. The results show strong backing across the political spectrum, with 92 percent of center-right Partido Popular (PP) voters and 89 percent of populist Vox supporters in favor. Notably, even 57 percent of voters aligned with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) expressed support for the measure.

Opposition was concentrated within the far-left Sumar party, where 67 percent of respondents rejected the idea. However, Sumar represents a relatively small segment of Spain’s electorate.

The poll specifically referenced Vox’s proposal for mass deportations, a policy that has gained attention across party lines. Immigration has become a “flashpoint” in the European Union (EU) country, with a growing number of citizens, across both the left and right, perceiving illegal immigration as a source of inconvenience. The paper observed that stricter immigration views, “typically associated with the right,” are now being adopted by “left-leaning socialist voters” as well.

The backdrop to this sentiment includes a rapid demographic transformation in Spain. The foreign-born population, which stood at less than one percent in 1991, will reach 20 percent by 2025. Additionally, so-called “family reunification” (chain migration) visas have reportedly surged by 650 percent since 2020, and current projections suggest that, without new restrictions, the ethnic Spanish population could fall to 60 percent by 2039.

The poll’s findings come amid growing public concern over issues such as rising migrant-related crime and record numbers of illegal arrivals in the Canary Islands. The trend reflects a broader European shift, with similar polls in countries like France and Germany indicating rising support for tighter immigration controls and increased anxiety over the security risks linked to mass migration.

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July 11, 2025
News
War

Trump: U.S. Is Funneling Arms to Ukraine Via Sales to NATO Allies.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States is selling weapons to NATO allies who are then transferring them to Ukraine, amid intensified Russian drone and missile attacks.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, NATO allies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Ukrainian and Russian forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent weeks, with statements from Trump and Rubio on Thursday and Friday, and Russian attacks reported in Kharkov, Odessa, and Kiev.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100 percent.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: NATO allies are coordinating with the U.S. to supply Ukraine with critical defense systems, while Russia increases its aerial and ground offensives.

IN FULL

The United States is advancing military support for Ukraine through an indirect strategy: selling American-made weapons to NATO allies, who then pass those arms on to Ukrainian forces. In a recent interview, President Donald J. Trump confirmed the approach, highlighting that NATO allies are covering the expenses. “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100 percent,” Trump said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided more context, explaining that transferring weapons already stationed in Europe enables faster delivery to Ukraine compared to shipping new equipment from the United States. “It’s a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine than it is to order it from a [U.S.] factory and get it there,” Rubio stated.

Amid intensified Russian airstrikes, including a recent night in which more than 700 drones were launched, Ukraine has appealed for additional military aid, especially Patriot air defense systems. Cities such as Kharkov and Odessa have suffered casualties and infrastructure damage as a result of ongoing attacks.

Rubio noted that NATO members like Germany and Spain, which already operate Patriot systems, are in a position to send some of their current inventory to Ukraine. In turn, these countries are ordering new systems from the U.S. to replace what they have given. He outlined how these financial arrangements allow NATO countries to assist Ukraine without depleting their own defense readiness.

It is unclear how many Patriot missile systems are currently available to Ukraine. One report suggests the United States has only 25 percent of the Patriot missile systems needed for its own use. The stockpile has allegedly fallen so low that some are concerned it could harm American military operations.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western partners to accelerate their assistance, emphasizing Ukraine’s urgent need for both equipment and funds. “We need financing. And then, we will intercept,” Zelensky said.

President Trump is also, for the first time, using Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to resupply Ukraine directly from Pentagon stocks, as he grows increasingly frustrated with Russia’s “bulls**t” in peace negotiations.

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June 25, 2025
Jack Montgomery
NatSec
News

‘Daddy’ Trump Scores ‘Monumental Win’ Over NATO — But One Member Faces Trade Sanctions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: NATO leaders agreed to raise annual defense spending to 5% of GDP, following pressure from President Donald J. Trump, who also warned Spain of trade consequences for non-compliance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, NATO member nations, and the Spanish government

📍WHEN & WHERE: June 26, 2025, NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands

💬KEY QUOTE: “This would not have happened if you would not have been elected in 2016 and re-elected last year… so I want to thank you.” – Mark Rutte

🎯IMPACT: The agreement marks a seismic policy shift within NATO, realigns financial responsibility, and reaffirms Trump’s influence over transatlantic defense policy.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday celebrated a major policy breakthrough as NATO allies agreed to boost their defense spending to five percent of GDP annually—a goal Trump has pushed since his first election in 2016. “It’s a monumental win for the United States, because we were carrying much more than our fair share,” Trump told reporters after the summit concluded in The Hague.

Speaking alongside Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged the American First leader’s role in driving the agreement, acknowledging: “This would not have happened if you would not have been elected in 2016 and re-elected last year… so I want to thank you.” Rutte emphasized the need to “equalise with the United States” and keep Europe safe in the face of growing threats.

In a moment that quickly went viral, Rutte also defended Trump’s sharp rhetoric towards Israel and Iran over ceasefire violations, joking, “Daddy has to use tough language.” The President had chastised both nations for continuing to fight while the ceasefire was pending and shortly after it was supposed to come into force, telling reporters that their governments “don’t know what the f**k they’re doing.”

Socialist-led Spain has proved to be a wrinkle in the defense spending pledge, insisting on an opt-out. Trump has warned they will face punishment for this, saying, “They want a little bit of a free ride, but they’ll have to pay it back to us on trade, because I’m not going to let that happen. It’s unfair.”

This could lead to friction with the European Union (EU), as EU members—including Spain—must follow a common policy on external commerce and, potentially dragging the entire bloc into a Spanish-American trade clash.

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May 6, 2025
News

Rapes Have Tripled in This European Country Amid Migration Surge.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: There has been a significant rise in sexual violence in Spain, with 5,206 rapes reported in 2024. This comes alongside a rise in illegal immigration, with the country accounting for around a fifth of all asylum claims in the European Union (EU) in 2024, with a large proportion of sexual predators being foreign nationals.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Spanish Ministry of the Interior, law enforcement, migrants, and campaigners like Elena Ramallo.

📍 Where & When: Spain, with data spanning from 2018 to 2024.

💬 Key Quote: “Not a single reference in the entire article to the identity of the aggressors,” Elena Ramallo criticized, in reference to a report on the figures by El Español which avoided referencing the migrants’ contribution to the rape rise.

⚠️ Impact: Specialized police units are overwhelmed, and there is increasing public pressure on the government for a stronger response.

IN FULL:

Socialist-led Spain is grappling with a surge in sexual violence, as official statistics from the Ministry of the Interior reveal a record 5,206 rapes in 2024. This alarming figure marks nearly a threefold increase from the 1,878 cases reported in 2019, with an average of 14 rapes occurring daily across the nation. The upward trend has persisted since 2018, briefly dipping only in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions on people’s movements.

Regions such as Catalonia and Andalusia and the capital of Madrid report the highest numbers, though all areas of Spain have seen increases. Disturbingly, cases involving minors, assaults linked to nightlife, and group attacks are also on the rise. This figures translate to a woman being raped approximately every hour and 45 minutes.

In Catalonia, a significant proportion of those convicted of rape are foreigners, comprising 91 percent of offenders, despite immigrants making up only 17 percent of the population. When considering both sexual assault and rape, 64.2 percent of inmates are foreign nationals. This demographic detail has sparked debate, with campaigners like Elena Ramallo criticizing media reports for not addressing the identity of aggressors.

The rapid increase in sexual violence has stretched the resources of specialized police units, such as the Family and Women’s Care Units (UFAM) of the National Police and the Women-Minor Teams (EMUME) of the Civil Guard. These units report being understaffed and overworked, handling a significantly higher workload than a decade ago without adequate support.

Government officials claim the rise is partly due to more women coming forward, avoiding the role of mass migration in the upward trend. Spain received more asylum claims than any other European Union (EU) member state bar Germany in 2024, although Germany is roughly 60 percent larger than Spain by population. Venezuelans are the leading nationality among Spanish claimants.

Notably, Germany also suffers from an extremely high migrant crime rate.

Image by Hellebardius.

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April 28, 2025
News
World

Major Power Outage Hits Europe, Capitals in Darkness.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A significant power outage affected Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France, disrupting services like subways, phone networks, traffic signals, and ATMs.

👥 Who’s Involved: The outage involved Spanish generator Red Eléctrica, Portuguese distributor E-Redes, and impacted over 50 million people in Spain and Portugal alone.

📍 Where & When: The incident occurred on Monday across the Iberian Peninsula, including major cities like Madrid and Lisbon.

💬 Key Quote: Senior Portuguese cabinet minister Leitão Amaro noted, “It looks like it was a problem with the distribution network, apparently in Spain. It’s still being ascertained.”

⚠️ Impact: The outage affected transportation systems, halted court activities, and disrupted electronic transactions in both countries. Some areas of France and the microstate of Andorra, between Spain and France, also experienced disruptions.

IN FULL:

A widespread power outage hit Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and parts of France on Monday. The disruption led to issues in public transport, phone and Internet services, and basic utilities such as traffic lights and ATMs.

Spanish electricity operator, Red Eléctrica, reported significant effects throughout the Iberian Peninsula, which has a combined population surpassing 50 million. Details on the exact number of people impacted remain unclear, but several regions in Spain, including the parliament building in Madrid and numerous subway stations, were left without power just after midday. A chart from Spain’s electricity network indicated a significant drop in electricity demand around 12:15 PM, plunging from 27,500MW to about 15,000MW.

In Portugal, similar scenarios unfolded in the capital, Lisbon, as well as in northern and southern areas. The Portuguese government, represented by Cabinet Minister Leitão Amaro, indicated that the disturbances likely originated from issues with the distribution network in Spain. However, the exact cause of the outages was unconfirmed as of the time of publication.

Local distributor E-Redes described the problem as stemming from the European electricity system, which had to strategically cut power to stabilize the grid. Disconnects were also reported in certain areas of France. Some reports indicate a fire on south-western France’s Alaric Mountain, which damaged a high-voltage power line, may also have played a role.

Transportation in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon was severely affected, with subway cars evacuated. Legal proceedings came to a halt, and electronic payment systems, including ATMs, were rendered inoperative, further complicating daily life. Communication was interrupted, preventing mobile phone calls, although some apps remained functional.

Efforts were made to restore service, with France reportedly overcoming its outages and Spain reporting partial recovery of power supply in the country’s north and south several hours after the blackout began.

The incident highlighted the vulnerabilities in cross-border energy dependencies within Europe, where energy security has deteriorated as a result of an ongoing sanctions war with Russia and net-zero policies shutting down many traditional power plants.

Image by Pedro Szekely.

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April 8, 2025
Immigration
News

France Overtakes Germany as EU’s Top Asylum Destination.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Germany has dropped to third place in the European Union (EU) for asylum applications, behind France and Spain.

👥 Who’s Involved: Germany, France, the European Commission, asylum seekers.

📍 Where & When: European Union, first quarter of 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “For the first time in years, the majority of asylum applications are no longer being made in Germany,” said Nancy Faeser.

⚠️ Impact: Potential end of Germany’s long-standing position as the EU’s top asylum destination, possibly signaling a shift in migrant trends within Europe.

IN FULL:

Based on a confidential report by the European Commission, the European Union’s unelected executive, Germany is no longer the leading destination for asylum applications in Europe, falling to third place in the first quarter of 2025. Germany recorded 37,387 asylum applications, behind France at 40,871 and Spain with 39,318. The figures suggest a 41 percent decrease compared to the previous year.

The development was confirmed by Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Interior Minister, on Monday when discussing the latest asylum statistics. “For the first time in years, the majority of asylum applications are no longer being made in Germany,” Faeser stated, recognizing the apparent shift in trends across the EU.

Germany, the EU’s largest economy and most populous member state, had consistently been the primary choice for asylum seekers across Europe. If current trends continue, 2025 could mark a distinct change from 2011, the last year Germany was not the leading destination for migrants, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).

Faeser attributed the decline in Germany’s application numbers to national measures and collaboration within Europe. A significant reduction in asylum applications from Syrian nationals was noted, coinciding with recent political changes in Syria, where the Assad regime was overthrown by al-Qaeda operative Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, a.k.a Abu Mohammad al-Julani. Previously, Germany processed over 50 percent of Syrian asylum claims within the EU.

In recent years, the German government intensified efforts to manage and curtail illegal migration, responding to a rise in asylum applications peaking at 334,000 in 2023, reminiscent of levels during the 2016 migrant crisis. The government also enacted stricter measures following several mass stabbing attacks by migrants from Afghanistan and Syria last year, which corresponded with the right-populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party increasing in popularity.

Image by Mighty.Germany.

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February 6, 2025
Jack Montgomery
World

Israel Says European Nations That Recognized ‘Palestine’ Must Accept Them as Migrants.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz says European countries such as Spain, Ireland, and Norway, which have officially recognized the state of Palestine, should be “legally obligated” to accept Palestinian migrants from Gaza. Katz’s provocative statement comes amid international debate over U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s plan to take control of Gaza after the conflict ends, with the resettlement of its Palestinian population elsewhere.

“Countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have leveled accusations and false claims against Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories,” Katz declared on X, formerly Twitter. He argued that nations critical of Israel’s military operations against Hamas should bear responsibility for providing refuge to Palestinians who choose to leave the territory.

Katz’s comments followed his directive to the Israeli army to develop a plan facilitating the “voluntary departure” of Gaza’s residents, including exit options via land crossings, sea, and air. The move aligns with President Trump’s controversial vision, announced a day earlier, to transform Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” under U.S. control, contingent on relocating Palestinians to “safer and more beautiful communities” in the region.

Trump clarified his stance on Thursday via Truth Social, stating, “The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. Palestinians would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed!”

Saudi Arabia opposes the plan, while Jordan’s King Abdullah, set to meet Trump next week, has denounced any moves to displace Palestinians—in large part because he does not want them in his territory. Egypt, another possible destination for Palestinian migrants, has previously threatened to send them on to Europe.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz says European countries such as Spain, Ireland, and Norway, which have officially recognized the state of Palestine, should be "legally obligated" to accept Palestinian migrants from Gaza. Katz's provocative statement comes amid international debate over U.S. President Donald J. Trump's plan to take control of Gaza after the conflict ends, with the resettlement of its Palestinian population elsewhere. show more
China Spying
January 30, 2025
World

China Just Tried to Overthrow a Major Western Nation’s Government.

A Chinese-backed spamouflage operation posing as Spanish nationals sought to use the catastrophic flooding that hit Valencia, Spain, in October to instigate the overthrow of the country’s government. Disguising themselves as Safeguard Defenders and allegedly based in Spain‘s capital of Madrid, the Chinese agents were active from November through January on the Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), BlueSky, and TikTok social media platforms.

The social media accounts—comprised of Chinese operatives posing as Westerners—posted and amplified content critical of both Spain’s central government in Madrid and of Carlos Mazon, Valencia’s regional governor. The posts, predominantly in English and Spanish, focused primarily on the deadly floods that resulted in the deaths of 200 people.

Aside from amplifying public anger towards Mazon—who many Valencia residents called on to step down amidst his mishandling of the disaster—the Chinese spamouflage operation also targeted Spain’s King Felipe VI and far-left Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The exposure of the social media influence operation suggests the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is less interested in promoting a uniform leftist ideology around the globe. Instead, it seeks to actively undermine Western governments which it sees as even remotely aligned with the interests of the European Union and the United States.

The National Pulse previously reported on a similar and complex Chinese spamouflage operation in the United States during the 2024 presidential election. Chinese agents, using social media, posed as American supporters of President Donald J. Trump and amplified conspiratorial content, such as claims that President Joe Biden is a “Satanist pedophile,” to discredit the MAGA movement. Again, the Chinese aims were less about promoting leftist ideology but instead sowing discord to accelerate the deterioration of public trust among the nation’s populace, which it views as a geopolitical rival.

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A Chinese-backed spamouflage operation posing as Spanish nationals sought to use the catastrophic flooding that hit Valencia, Spain, in October to instigate the overthrow of the country's government. Disguising themselves as Safeguard Defenders and allegedly based in Spain's capital of Madrid, the Chinese agents were active from November through January on the Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), BlueSky, and TikTok social media platforms. show more
November 14, 2024
Election 2024
Politics

Adios! Eva Longoria Relocates Family Abroad, Calls U.S. ‘Dystopian’.

Actress Eva Longoria has relocated with her family outside the United States, now splitting time between Mexico and Spain. In a recent interview, the actress cited the deterioration of living conditions in California as the impetus for her family’s departure from the country, noting the increasing homeless population and high taxes. However, she said President Donald J. Trump’s re-election was the final straw.

“I had my whole adult life here. But even before [the coronavirus pandemic], it was changing. The vibe was different,” Longoria said. “And then COVID happened, and it pushed it over the edge. Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to shit on California—it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.”

The Hollywood celebrity, who first achieved fame on the show Desperate Housewives, was an outspoken supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz (D-MN), during the 2024 presidential election. “The shocking part is not that he won. It’s that a convicted criminal who spews so much hate could hold the highest office,” Longoria said regarding President-elect Trump’s landslide victory last week.

“If he keeps his promises, it’s going to be a scary place,” the actress said. Longoria has long been an advocate for mass immigration and open borders policies.

Exemplifying Hollywood entitlement, Longoria feigned shock that many Americans disagree with her political preferences, saying, “It was like, ‘Does my vote really matter? Am I really making a difference?'”

Longoria says that while she has been able to relocate outside the U.S., most Americans are not so lucky: “They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Actress Eva Longoria has relocated with her family outside the United States, now splitting time between Mexico and Spain. In a recent interview, the actress cited the deterioration of living conditions in California as the impetus for her family's departure from the country, noting the increasing homeless population and high taxes. However, she said President Donald J. Trump's re-election was the final straw. show more