France steps up border controls with Spain following migration wave in Ceuta

PARIS - France has stepped up border controls with Spain following a wave of migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located north of Morocco, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday.

"Ceuta does not enjoy free movement to the rest of the Schengen Area. However, yesterday I asked the Minister of the Interior to strengthen controls at our border with Spain if necessary: four mobile police units, aircraft, and drones have been deployed," Macron said in a message posted on social media platform X.

Some 60,000 migrants have entered Ceuta illegally in recent days, by land and by sea, according to local authorities in Ceuta. 57 migrants died while attempting to reach the territory by swimming, the Spanish daily El Pais reported.

By late Friday afternoon, approximately 48,000 migrants had left the Spanish enclave to return to Morocco, the Spanish government announced.