Elon Musk repeated his claim that '90% of Earth has a financial reason to move to Spain' as thousands crossed into Ceuta from Morocco, an episode that left at least nine people dead. Spanish authorities sent troops and extra police while Madrid and Rabat agreed to accelerate returns. Researchers say Musk's argument oversimplifies migration, noting that jobs, distance, language and family networks are stronger determinants of movement than marginal differences in benefits. The incident underscores the complexity of migration policy and the need for coordinated, long-term solutions.
Elon Musk Says ‘90% Of Earth’ Would Move To Spain — Experts Say Migration Is Far More Complex
Elon Musk Spain. Photo by BeInCrypto
Elon Musk repeated a provocative claim that “90% of Earth has a financial reason to move to Spain” as thousands crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta — a chaotic episode that left at least nine people dead.
Ceuta is a small Spanish city on the North African coast with roughly 85,000 residents. The surge of arrivals on Thursday, many of whom swam around the Tarajal seawall, prompted urgent warnings from local officials and calls for stronger border controls.
Local response and government action
Rachid Sbihi, head of the union representing Ceuta's border police, described the situation as “absolute chaos” and said the border had “totally collapsed,” according to the Associated Press. Local leader Juan Jesús Vivas urged Madrid to declare a national emergency and deploy the army. The Interior Ministry initially declined to declare a formal emergency but sent troops and extra police to the enclave, and Spain and Morocco agreed to speed up returns.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Madrid was mobilising all necessary resources and noted that his government granted legal status to about half a million undocumented workers in January to regularise labour and reduce precarious conditions.
Musk’s claim and its context
Musk has made similar arguments before, previously aimed at the United States. His core idea: when a country’s welfare or benefits offer a standard of living higher than what most of the world experiences, it becomes a magnet that could overwhelm that country’s budget. In one iteration he argued that even small shifts in population could strain services; in another he suggested Spain could theoretically attract billions, which researchers say is unrealistic.
'Spain's entire budget will be destroyed by illegal migrants. It's basic math: if Spain offers free stuff to migrants that is above 90% of the living standard of Earth, they create a forcing function for 90% of Earth to move to Spain,' Musk wrote in one post.
What experts say
Most migration researchers reject Musk’s simplified arithmetic. Evidence shows that jobs, distance, language, existing immigrant networks, legal restrictions and the cost and risk of travel are stronger determinants of where people move. Policies, geography and social ties shape migration flows in practical ways that blunt any purely financial “magnet” effect.
Why the debate matters
The exchange highlights competing views about migration policy and messaging: political rhetoric that frames migration as an imminent budgetary collapse versus research-based perspectives that emphasise complex, multi-causal drivers. As Spain and Morocco manage short-term border pressures in Ceuta, long-term solutions will require cooperation, legal pathways, and policies that address root causes of displacement.
Note: Reported deaths and figures are based on initial reports; numbers may be revised as authorities update the situation.
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