Italy’s unusual step following the migrant chaos in Spain

Italy and Spain do not have a common border, but the suspension of the Schengen Agreement between them means that those arriving by plane or boat from Spain to Italy will have to go through border control. It is not clear how Italy will enforce the suspension of the agreement on those arriving from Spain through a third country. Rome announced that at the same time as the suspension, it agreed with France on “strengthening checks at the border” between France and Spain in order to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called on Spain not to allow the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants to reach European soil. The European Commission has warned that if the immigrants are transferred to Europe, this will lead to the suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain by many countries.

Italy took the initiative and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney announced the step this evening, at the end of an emergency meeting with senior ministers. The issue of illegal immigration was at the top of Maloney’s election platform and the “Brothers of Italy” movement, which promised to stop the entry of illegal immigrants. The move is expected to further deepen the rift with Spain, where the center-left government supports immigration to the European Union as an economic model that will ensure working hands for a continent where the number of children is decreasing. The suspension of the agreement will be valid for at least one month.

In Spain, the Ministry of the Interior published a message according to which 48 thousand of the approximately 50 thousand illegal immigrants who entered – have already returned to Morocco. However, the credibility of the message and the numbers of those entering and remaining are unclear, given the chaos that has prevailed in the enclave over the past day. The enclave authorities said that at least 60,000 people entered, and there are estimates that the number is higher. It is also not clear how Spain will handle young people under the age of 18 who entered and registered at the reception center. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that floats would be immediately placed in the border area so that this would be considered a “visible obstacle”, and thus there would be no fear that the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding the entry of immigrants by sea would be valid. He condemned the “illegal entry” and assured the residents of Sao Toe that order and security would be restored.

Spain announced the sending of military forces

Earlier it was reported that after a day of chaos and images that echoed throughout Europe, the Spanish government announced that it intends to send military forces to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa, to stop the flow of illegal immigrants who enter it almost without interruption. The army is supposed to be deployed in the breached border area. The government also announced that the Moroccan authorities would block the arrival of migrants to the border area, in an attempt to resolve the situation. According to estimates, thousands of illegal immigrants entered the Spanish enclave in the last day, swimming around the fence and breakwater that were supposed to protect it. At least 18 people died during the entry attempts, most from drowning at sea.

Despite the announcement, as of this morning, the chaos in the enclave continues. The immigrants – a large number of them young people under the age of 18 who hope not to be deported back to Morocco with the help of legal protection – shouted “Long live Spain” and “Pedro Sanchez”, to indicate their ambition to be accepted in Spain as part of the forgiving attitude towards immigration led by the Prime Minister, who heads the center-left government. Rumors on social media in Morocco about the meaning of a ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court, which prevents the immediate return of those who entered by land, led to an unprecedented wave of illegal entries.

In Ceuta itself, scenes of clashes between local residents and the illegal immigrants have been published. Some residents, on the other hand, distributed water and food to the young immigrants. The representatives of the enclave appeared in front of the cameras and asked Madrid to declare a state of emergency immediately. Madrid’s answer yesterday evening was that illegal immigration is not a sufficient reason to declare such a situation. Today Sanchez is supposed to visit the enclave together with the interior minister.

Also in the second Spanish enclave on North African soil – Malia – it was reported that hundreds of illegal immigrants arrived by swimming. The border between her and Morocco is officially closed. The local governor estimated the number of illegal entries into Malia at about 400.

The numbers of immigrants who entered are unknown. The media showed yesterday convoys of people, including women and children, entering the enclave by bypassing breakwaters and fences, some by swimming and some by climbing. A Spanish TV reporter said this afternoon that the number of arrivals could be higher than 5,000, while the Spanish newspaper ABC stated last night that “at least 20,000 illegal immigrants have already entered”.

Spain has a rapid repatriation agreement with Morocco, which allows Moroccan citizens who entered illegally to be returned within three days, but it does not apply to minors, and many of those crossing the border today are under 18, according to media reports. “They walk to the breakwater, then swim around it, they enter as winners, as if celebrating a victory in the World Cup in soccer and try to dry their phones. Others, with children, continue into the city in search of a reception center,” reported a reporter for the “Al-Fais” newspaper from the place.

A ruling by the Supreme Court earlier this month limiting the ability to “push back” immigrants arriving by sea, as opposed to the possibility by land, apparently sparked rumors of a change in Spanish policy and encouraged many of the illegal immigrants. The ruling stated that those who crossed by land can be returned immediately, but the asylum requests of those who arrived by sea must be examined. At the same time, Madrid broadcast a liberal policy towards illegal immigrants, when it announced at the beginning of the year the granting of one-year residency to every illegal immigrant who has been in the country for about six months until the end of 2025. So far, about 1.2 million illegal residents – mostly from Latin America – have been registered for this government amnesty program.

Last night at 19:00 (local time), Spanish television reported, there was a “five-kilometer line” to enter the enclave through the breached lane. Most of the people in line are reportedly young people from Morocco. “They come from all over Morocco, on foot, on motorcycles, in cars and buses,” the network reported, “dressed in light clothes and ready to jump into the sea.”

“Beginning of war”: the political consequences in Europe and Spain

The unprecedented wave of immigration also has political consequences. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney announced last night that she is considering suspending the free movement required by the Schengen Agreement, and blocking the entry of illegal immigrants into the country. Spain reacted furiously and recalled its ambassador to Rome for consultations. In Britain, the leader of the “Reform” party, Nigel Farage, declared that this was “the beginning of a war” and that this was an “invasion of Europe”.

Also in Spain, the photos caused a political uproar. On the right, the right-wing populist party Vox also said that this was an “invasion” and called on Sanchez to resign. Party leader Santiago Abascal said that Sánchez will now be responsible for any “stabbing and rape cases” committed by illegal immigrants. Also on the left, representatives of the left-wing populist party “Podemos” expressed surprise that the government did not declare a state of emergency despite a whole week of illegal arrivals, and called for new elections.

At noon, the authorities informed us that the number of illegal immigrants who entered the enclave in the last day is at least 49,000 people. Only about 80 thousand people live permanently in the entire enclave.