The Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, will visit the new facilities of the «smart border» at the Beni Ansar land crossing in Melilla on Wednesday. According to EFE, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced that Grande-Marlaska will arrive at the border crossing at 11:30 a.m. to visit the «entry/exit system», which automates border control processes using biometric surveillance technologies. This system enhances security and efficiency at border crossings. According to data from the National Police, over four million people and 760,000 vehicles passed through the system last year alone. The «smart border» system in Melilla is designed to combat identity theft and the fraudulent use of travel documents, prevent the entry of individuals who do not meet the required conditions, and identify those who overstay their permitted duration of stay. Additionally, the system helps prevent, detect, and investigate terrorist or serious crimes and provides valuable information for investigations related to individuals who have crossed the European Union's external borders. Two hours before his visit to the smart border, the Minister of the Interior will hold a coordination and operational meeting with senior officials from the National Police and the Civil Guard in Melilla, along with the Government Delegate, Sabrina Moh. The last visit by the Spanish Minister of the Interior to Melilla took place on April 17, 2023, nearly ten months after the tragic attempt to cross the border on June 24, 2022, which resulted in the deaths of 23 migrants, according to official Moroccan figures.
