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Spain activated passport and visa checks on passengers arriving from Italy as its dispute with Rome over migration management intensified this week, according to a government statement. The measures, set to last until September 7, mirror Italy’s decision to suspend Schengen free-movement provisions for non-EU travelers from Spain that took effect at the start of August. Spanish authorities described Italy’s action as lacking factual basis since the migrants who reached Ceuta had no immediate pathway into the broader Schengen zone.
Spain’s Interior Ministry placed the number of arrivals in Ceuta at around 50000 between July 30 and 31 while local officials cited by Reuters estimated up to 60000 with most returning to Morocco within days. At least 48300 had gone back by Friday evening according to the ministry and reports indicated dozens of deaths during the crossings. Nearly 1400 unaccompanied minors remained in the enclave which has a resident population of roughly 84000 the Spanish government said.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez demanded that Italy reverse its controls while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the suspension as essential to safeguard security and eliminate perceived terrorist risks. Italy’s government stated it would not accept ultimatums and intended to keep the restrictions in place at least until August 15. Officials in Rome added that Spanish citizens remain exempt from the additional screening which targets third-country nationals.
The July crossings followed a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that barred summary returns of migrants intercepted at sea a decision Moroccan sources blamed for removing a key deterrent. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner attributed the sudden movement to criminal networks disseminating false information online a position shared by Spanish authorities. Frontex figures show irregular EU border crossings fell 40 percent in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier despite the Ceuta spike.
This episode revives memories of a 2021 incident in which more than 8000 migrants entered Ceuta in two days according to historical records from Spanish authorities. The two North African enclaves have long been a point of contention as Morocco does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over them a fact noted in multiple diplomatic summaries. UNHCR data reflected a 164 percent rise in Ceuta land arrivals through mid-July this year relative to 2025.
Spanish officials told reporters they are monitoring social media activity that has advertised a potential second wave in mid-August although they do not anticipate a repeat on the prior scale. The European Commission has signaled readiness to provide further operational support including through Frontex if formally requested by Madrid. Both countries continue to coordinate with EU partners on longer-term migration policy adjustments.
