Europe is learning a lesson that the Trump administration understood long before the rest of the West: Border policy is about incentives.

This week, Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta became the epicenter of one of Europe’s most dramatic migration crises in years. Tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Spanish territory, overwhelming authorities, straining emergency services, and reigniting a debate over whether Europe can maintain both humanitarian commitments and secure borders. During the surge, dozens of migrants reportedly died as a result of chaotic crossings, underscoring the human cost of policies that encourage dangerous journeys.