Italy suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain allowing for visa-free movement between borders as of Saturday for one month.
Several European countries had suggested Spain’s membership in the Schengen free movement zone should be suspended, though that was virtually impossible in practice.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in a letter to the heads of the European Commission and European Council, blasted the “selfish” reaction by some EU countries. He backed a video meeting of interior ministers.
Madrid has already rushed troops, police, drones, divers and boats to the North African outpost that it has run for centuries.
After a night of wandering the beaches and streets of Ceuta, and dozens of men sleeping on the sand, journalists observed on Saturday some young people turning back to say “adios” or “goodbye” to officers before crossing back to Morocco.
More soldiers stood guard on the small beach next to the border fence, positioned under parasols in the morning.
Spain’s interior ministry said a new pneumatic barrier 500 metres (1,640 feet) in length was installed near the border post to reinforce security.
Ceuta, a territory of 18.5 square kilometres (seven square miles), and the nearby enclave of Melilla are Europe’s only two land borders with Africa.
Previous migrant surges have occurred during tensions between Spain and Morocco, including in 2021, which led more than 10,000 migrants to enter Ceuta in just two days.
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