France, Spain Boost Border Controls Amid North African Migrant Surge

Spain and France are bolstering border security as thousands of migrants from North Africa surge into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the Moroccan coast. The unprecedented influx has prompted a strong response from both nations.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta on Tuesday to assess the security situation. He was accompanied by the interior minister, underscoring the gravity of the crisis. Spain has deployed military forces to reinforce security in the territory, which has seen an estimated 40,000 migrants arrive in recent days, a figure that dwarfs the enclave's 80,000 residents.

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I have ordered the immediate reinforcement of controls on the border with Spain.

France, a neighbor to Spain, has also taken immediate action. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on X, formerly Twitter, that he had ordered an immediate reinforcement of controls along the border with Spain. He also stated that a border rapid intervention force would be deployed for "in-depth checks." Nunez confirmed on French radio that he had spoken with his Spanish counterpart and that border controls, already strengthened in recent months, would be further enhanced.

These measures come as thousands of migrants reportedly crossed into Ceuta from Morocco overnight. The sheer volume of arrivals has created a humanitarian and logistical challenge for the Spanish territory, leading to the heightened security measures by both Spain and France.

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We will of course strengthen border controls.