France ordered immediate reinforcements along its border with Spain on Thursday after tens of thousands of migrants surged into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, overwhelming existing capacity. President Emmanuel Macron directed the Interior Ministry to take all necessary measures, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez activated a rapid intervention border force for comprehensive checks extending into the hinterland.
The episode, the largest influx into Ceuta since 2021, has left at least 34 people dead and triggered violent clashes at border fences near Castillejos and Beni Nsar. The crisis has exposed deep rifts within the Schengen area: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for Spain's suspension from the zone, a demand echoed by Finland's interior minister, while Spain's foreign minister accused Italy of politicising migration.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Spain's stated intention to prevent irregular migrants from reaching the European mainland. France's new measures build on border reinforcements first introduced in 2020.