Italy Rejects 31 Individuals and Arrests Six Following Tightened Border Controls

Moscow (ANTARA) - Italy has rejected the entry of 3ly individuals, including eight Moroccan nationals, and arrested six people following the reimplementation of border controls with Spain, stated Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani.

According to reports from the RIA Novosti news agency in Moscow on Tuesday, the tightening of border controls comes amidst the migrant crisis occurring in Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast bordering Morocco.

“Over the past month, 31 entry refusal decisions have been issued at sea borders and airports, eight of which were against Moroccan nationals. Six people have been arrested. That number is quite significant,” Tajani said in an interview with the newspaper Corriere della Sera.

On Monday, Italy extended the temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement for passengers arriving from Spain for an additional 15 days.

Tajani stated that the decision is temporary and is not directed against Spain or any other nation.

He added that the policy, which has been in place since 1 August, aims to protect national security. According to him, “the threat of jihadism must not be underestimated.”

“I want to remind you that we have successfully reduced illegal immigration in our country by more than 60 per cent,” said Tajani.

At the end of July, Ceuta recorded a large influx of migrants. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior previously stated that approximately 72,000 migrants had entered the territory from Morocco, most of whom were subsequently returned to Morocco.

In response to the migration crisis, Italy has implemented additional inspections for passengers and vehicles arriving from Spain.