Paris, France – French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on Friday that control measures would be strengthened at the land border with Spain, confirming that there were ongoing contacts with the Spanish government to monitor developments in the crisis of the massive influx of irregular migrants coming from Morocco towards the city of Ceuta.
In a statement, Núñez explained: “Given the situation observed in the Ceuta enclave, I issued instructions last night to reinforce controls at the Spanish border without delay. Furthermore, I activated the border’s rapid intervention force to conduct thorough inspections.” The minister confirmed in a radio interview on RTL that he had contacted his Spanish counterpart on Thursday and intends to follow up with him to discuss the implications of the arrival of such large numbers.
When asked about Italian calls to close the Schengen Area to Spain, Núñez adopted a moderate stance, noting that border controls were in place, active, and had been reinforced in recent months, with a mobile force permanently stationed there.
He emphasized, “Certainly, the necessary measures will be taken if any movements are detected within national territory, and in any case, border control will be strengthened.”
The French measures coincide with initial estimates from Spanish security forces indicating that more than 40,000 migrants have entered Ceuta irregularly in recent days, with the largest influx occurring last Thursday. This record far surpasses the number recorded during the May 2021 crisis, which was limited to approximately 10,000 arrivals. With some estimates reaching as high as 50,000, this wave represents a staggering increase of nearly 50% of the enclave’s total population of 83,600. This influx has resulted in a widespread dispersal of migrants throughout the city’s streets, with hundreds spending the night in the open. One local resident aptly described the scene as resembling a “continuous demonstration,” reflecting the scale of the current humanitarian and on-the-ground crisis.
