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France and Italy tighten border controls after migrant surge into Ceuta
France said it will raise police and gendarme presence on the Spain border to 334 officers by Saturday, while Italy suspended Schengen rules with Spain for one month.
France and Italy moved to tighten border controls after about 60,000 people entered Spain’s North Africa enclave of Ceuta, one of the largest migrant crises for the European Union in recent years, according to Agence France-Presse via SCMP Economy. Ceuta’s regional president Juan Jesus Vivas said the migrants entered from Morocco, and officials reported that by Friday evening more than 48,000 had returned. The article said many crossed by swimming around a small border barrier that juts into the Mediterranean, and at least 34 people died in the attempt.
France tightened checks on its border with Spain and said it would increase its police presence fivefold, to 334 officers and gendarmes by Saturday. Italy announced it suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain, allowing for visa-free movement between internal borders.
Italian officials said the Schengen suspension would begin on Saturday and last for one month.