France tightens borders after deadly Ceuta migrant crisis

France has strengthened security checks along its border with Spain following the recent migrant influx into the Spanish

France has strengthened security checks along its border with Spain following the recent migrant influx into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on Tuesday.

The enhanced border measures were introduced over the weekend on the instructions of French President Emmanuel Macron after tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco over two days, triggering one of the region’s largest migration emergencies in recent years.

Spanish authorities said the vast majority of migrants who entered the enclave had already been returned to Morocco. Officials also confirmed that at least 75 people died while attempting the dangerous crossing, highlighting the human cost of the crisis.

Speaking after an emergency video conference with European interior ministers, Laurent Nunez said European Union member states had unanimously expressed solidarity with Spain and pledged support in managing the situation.

He said France remained ready to provide additional assistance through Frontex, the EU’s border management agency, if required.

The French minister noted that Ceuta operates under special rules within the Schengen Area and stressed that strict border controls had prevented the migration crisis from spreading to mainland Europe.

Nunez also praised the cooperation between Spain and Morocco in responding to the situation, saying close coordination between the two countries had been vital in managing the large-scale arrivals.

Rejecting calls from some political groups in France to suspend Spain from the Schengen free-movement zone, he said EU member states agreed that the Schengen system remained part of the solution rather than the cause of the crisis.

He emphasized that the Schengen Area had not been threatened despite the surge in migration and reaffirmed France’s commitment to coordinated European efforts to address irregular migration.