French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday he has ordered the deployment of four units of mobile forces, along with aircraft and drones, to strengthen controls at France’s border with Spain in response to the migrant situation in the Spanish territory of Ceuta. In a post on X, Macron wrote that he had been in contact with the leader of the Spanish government “to express our solidarity and offer any necessary assistance, including through Frontex.” He cited ongoing cooperation with Morocco, which he said “has already enabled more than 40,000 returns from Ceuta to Morocco today.” Interior ministers from both countries were in contact “to ensure close monitoring of the situation.” Macron noted that Ceuta does not benefit from freedom of movement to the rest of the Schengen Area. “However, as of yesterday, I asked the Interior Minister to strengthen controls at our border with Spain if necessary: 4 units of mobile forces, aircraft, and drones have been deployed.” These steps, he said, reinforce arrangements France has taken since 2020 to protect its border with Spain through joint brigades and concerted action against illegal immigration.  They also complement European instruments for returns and the asylum and migration pact. Macron cited a 25% drop in irregular flows to the European Union last year and a decline on the Atlantic and western Mediterranean routes in 2026. “Solidarity and responsibility with our European partners to enforce our rules of firmness on returns and the protection of the Union’s external borders,” he wrote. “I reiterate here our solidarity with Spain, its government, and its people.” The announcement comes after nearly 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco since Thursday. At least 57 people have died, many from drowning as they tried to swim into the territory and others from being trampled as crowds broke down gates and overwhelmed Spanish border officials. Most of those who crossed appeared to be young Muslim men. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his government was “fully committed to providing an immediate response to the situation in Ceuta” and was mobilizing resources while working with Moroccan and international authorities. Later, he called the events something that “deserves our full reproach, our condemnation at the strongest possible level of rejection, condemnation, and consideration as deplorable.” The influx followed a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants crossing by sea cannot be immediately deported. Migrants were reportedly heard chanting “Bye Bye Morocco, hello Spain” and “Allahu akbar” as they pushed past officials.  Locals described closed businesses, packed streets, and fear. One restaurant owner said it was “every man for himself.” Another called the scene an “apocalypse.” Santiago Abascal of Spain’s Vox party described the arrivals as an invasion of military-aged men. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy was taking extraordinary measures, including the possible suspension of the Schengen Area with Spain, calling uncontrolled illegal immigration a concrete threat to Europe’s borders.  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled the situation “unacceptable” and said dangerous crossings must stop, smuggling networks must be dismantled, and returns must be swift. President Donald Trump said Friday the events in Spain would feature in Republican midterm messaging. Speaking from Camp David, he described it as looking “like an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people” and warned that the same thing would happen to the United States on a larger scale if Republicans are not elected.  “If we’re not in office, our country will be invaded at levels that made Spain look small time,” Trump said. He had told Fox News earlier Friday to “remember that picture,” adding that it would be the United States in three years “if the wrong side gets in.” Vice President JD Vance called the images “an unfortunate reminder of the consequences of mass migration and the radical left-wing globalist policies that have enabled the Invasion of the West.”  The State Department said the United States stands with the people of Spain against “this egregious violation of their sovereignty and human rights” and described the incident as the result of Spanish government efforts that enabled mass illegal migration. Macron’s deployment of the four mobile forces, aircraft, and drones is the clearest French operational response so far to the pressure building at the Spanish border.