In a move to counter an escalating row between European Union (EU) member states, Spain has implemented border controls on air and sea travel from Italy, effective for a month starting midnight (22:00 GMT). This decision comes in response to Italy's restrictions following a massive influx of approximately 78,000 migrants from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. Spanish authorities are conducting document checks on 5%-10% of passengers before they disembark planes. The crisis has fueled tension between Spain's socialist leader Pedro Sanchez and Italy's conservative leader Giorgia Meloni, who advocates for stricter EU migration policies. While Italy does not share a land border with Spain, it temporarily suspended the border-free Schengen arrangement to prevent potential travel of migrants from Ceuta to Italy. However, Madrid disputes this position, stating that the migrants cannot enter the Schengen area due to lack of valid documents. On Friday, Spain demanded Italy reverse its checks by Sunday; Rome responded that they will stay until at least 15 August, citing an expected new wave of migration to Ceuta. Italian border officials are reportedly conducting additional checks on non-EU residents, leading to long queues and waiting times in several airport terminals. Spain's controls are claimed to be random, but passengers arriving in Madrid have reported that all passengers were required to show their passports. The controls will remain in place until 7 September, subject to change based on circumstances. Temporary suspensions of the Schengen agreement are not uncommon; Italy also maintains controls on its border with Slovenia. The decision to suspend Schengen for a month was supported by Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic called for Spain's membership to be temporarily suspended. Most migrants who arrived in Ceuta last week were returned within days, but nearly 1,400 minors still remain there. Amidst concerns of a second wave of crossings from Morocco, Facebook posts advocating for a second crossing in mid-August have been found. The Spanish government is monitoring the situation closely but does not anticipate a repeat of last week's scenes. The influx of migrants has raised questions about the role of criminal networks spreading disinformation, a claim both the EU's Migration Commissioner and the Spanish government support. The Supreme Court ruling preventing the summary return of migrants at sea attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla is blamed for the crisis by Morocco, which does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the exclaves.