Italy’s PM threatens Schengen Area suspension with Spain

1. MIGRATION ROW in CEUTA 
2. 60,000 people cross into Spain’s Ceuta from Morocco in 24 hours.
3. At least 57 reportedly die during the surge.
4. The migrants in Ceuta have no onwards route to the EU given the territory’s special status under the Schengen rules.
5. PM Pedro Sánchez says crossings violated Spain’s territorial integrity, blames hum­an trafficking gangs for wilfully misleading peo­ple about changes to migration rules and tri­ggering the border run.
6. 25,000 people return to Morocco, Spanish interior ministry says, as govt vows to crack down on illegal migra­tion, expedite returns.

Rome: PM Giorgia Meloni on Thursday warned Italy could suspend the Schengen Area with Spain and adopt “extraordinary measures” after sce­nes from Ceuta, saying uncontrolled illegal immigration threatened Europe's borders.

“The images coming from Ceuta are striking and demonstrate, once again, that uncontrolled illegal immigration poses a concrete threat to the security of Europe's borders,” Meloni said on X. “We are prepared to intervene with extraordinary mea­sures to defend the borders and the safety of citizens, inc­luding the suspension of the Schengen Area with Spain.”

She said the government would continue defending borders, stopping human traffickers and ensuring effective repatriations.

Deputy PM Antonio Tajani backed the proposal, calling Spain's decision to grant citizenship to more than 5,00,000 irregular immigrants “profoundly wrong” and alleging it encouraged human trafficking. He supported closing the Schengen Area to Spain.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares describ­ed Tajani's remarks as “unbecoming”, saying the developments in Ceuta stemmed from a court ruling and had nothing to do with Spain’s citizenship policy. Albares announced he had summoned Italy's ambassador, adding that European partners should show solidarity instead of partisan demagoguery.

—IANS

It’s terrible. Remember that picture. That’s going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in. If Democrats get in, you won’t live a good life.

Donald Trump, POTUS

Thank God POTUS was elected and our country’s border no longer looks like this. Images out of Spain are an unfortunate reminder of the conse­q­uences of migration and the radical left-wing globalist policies that have enabled the invasion of the West.

JD Vance, US V-P

The EU must take steps and consider all options, including a suspension of Schengen cooperation. Uncon­trolled immigra­tion is a threat to Europe and Denmark.

Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s PM