A T-shirt bearing the slogan “We are all caballas” has been marketed as a gesture of solidarity with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta following the mass arrival of migrants on 30 and 31 July. But an investigation by Spanish journalist Carmela Ríos, published on X on 27 September, reveals that a significant share of the proceeds flows to a far-right organisation with ties to the continent-wide movement for “remigration”.
The garment is sold by Terre de France, a brand that describes its products as “patriotic and solidarity-based” and claims they are 100% French. Of the €35 price, €10 is allocated to Save Europe Act, a self-described patriotic movement that advocates halting non-European migration and promoting the return of migrants to their countries of origin. No money is earmarked for direct support to people or organisations in Ceuta, meaning nearly 29% of each purchase goes to the political group.
Terre de France’s website lists other beneficiaries, including farmers’ groups, agricultural colleges, and an association for wounded French soldiers. But in this case, the company’s messaging frames Ceuta’s residents—whose nickname is “caballas”—as “surviving a migratory invasion that threatens the very existence of their city.” The promotional image, which shows a person wearing the T-shirt in front of what appears to be Trampolín beach, has been flagged by detection tools Hive, TruthScan, and Sight Engine as likely generated by artificial intelligence.
Save Europe Act and the push for remigration
Save Europe Act presents itself as a patriotic movement demanding that “the political elite” end “replacement immigration” and protect the “ethnocultural identity of European nations.” It proposes halting “non-Western/non-European migration routes” until “social cohesion and cultural continuity” are restored. The group also advocates “remigration”—both compulsory and voluntary—for people in irregular situations, those who have committed crimes, and those it deems “not integrated or constitute a significant cultural or financial burden.”
The organisation is gathering signatures across Europe in an attempt to reach one million and submit its proposal as a European Citizens’ Initiative, a mechanism that allows citizens to ask the European Commission to propose new legislation. However, the Commission has refused to register the initiative, stating it is “manifestly contrary to the values enshrined in the Treaty and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU.” The Commission also said the initiative would be used as “a vehicle for offensive or caricatural messages.” According to Euronews, the organisers are preparing to challenge the decision in court.
The T-shirt’s promotion has been amplified by far-right figures. Damien Rieu, a French activist with 325,000 followers on X, promoted the sale on 26 September. Martin Sellner, a prominent figure in the identitarian movement with nearly 200,000 followers, shared videos from Ceuta on 3 August in which he called for stopping “this ethnic replacement” through “non-violent civil disobedience.” Eva Vlaardingerbroek, co-founder of Save Europe Act, posted a message on 31 July denouncing an “orchestrated invasion” of Ceuta, which was shared by Elon Musk. She has 1.2 million followers on X and 1.3 million on Instagram.
Ríos argues that Europe’s far right sees Ceuta as a real stage “to advance its strategy.” She outlines a roadmap based on “the massive use of disinformation, artificial intelligence and the whole machinery of bots, trolls and fictitious digital operations.” According to the journalist, these movements rely on one another “on the basis of similar talking points and a shared technological framework.”
The far-right presence in Ceuta has been tangible. Activists from Reform UK arrived on 1 August, followed by members of Junge Tat from Switzerland on 2 August, Reconquista from Portugal on 4 August, and Generation Identity from Germany. Members of the neo-Nazi organisation Núcleo Nacional were expelled on 1 August after attempting to hold a demonstration, which was met by a counter-demonstration by local residents.
This is not the first time Save Europe Act has been linked to disinformation. In the Torre Pacheco case in July 2025, when an attack on a local resident by a young man of Moroccan origin triggered a wave of racist unrest, the promoters of Save Europe Act and the organisation itself spread false messages. The Ceuta T-shirt controversy adds another layer to the ongoing debate over how European solidarity is being co-opted by political movements. As the EU grapples with migration policy, the role of such groups in shaping public opinion remains a concern. For more on the broader context, see Ceuta's deepening crisis and Macron's backing for Spain.
