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Spain’s government announces immediate border controls with Italy in migration spat

By Thomson Reuters Aug 7, 2026 | 3:00 PM

MADRID, Aug 7 (Reuters) – Spain’s government said on Friday it ​would establish ‌border controls for flights and ships from Italy from midnight on ‌Saturday ​until September ⁠7 in a ⁠dispute with the neighbouring country over irregular migration.

Passport, nationality and ​visa checks would be conducted ⁠for Italian ⁠passengers and visitors ​from other countries ​arriving from Italy “amid the persistent ‌irregular migratory pressure” from the Alpine country.

Spain said ⁠the measures would apply while Italy applied its own ⁠measures ‌which it ⁠said were motivated ​by ‌the mass migration ​rush by ⁠72,000 people on Spain’s African enclave of Ceuta on July 30.

(Reporting by Aislinn ​Laing)