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🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

Morocco says Spain should have foreseen impact of court ruling following Ceuta migrant rush

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Morocco argues Spain should have anticipated the consequences of a court ruling that weakened migration deterrence, contributing to a mass influx into Ceuta.
  • Spain estimates around 69,500 migrants returned to Morocco, while Morocco reports 40,000 entered the enclave, with dozens of deaths reported on both sides.
  • Morocco insists it maintained border controls and security, stating Spain is responsible for restoring deterrence after the ruling facilitated migrant crossings.

A senior Moroccan official asserted that Spanish authorities should have foreseen the repercussions of a court ruling that diminished a key deterrent against illegal migration, a factor contributing to the recent mass crossings into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The official stated that local authorities in Ceuta should have anticipated the consequences of a ruling that deactivated illegal migration deterrence.

Spanish authorities should have anticipated the consequences of a court ruling that weakened a key deterrent against illegal migration and contributed to last week's mass crossings into the enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco.

— Senior Moroccan officialStating Morocco's position on Spain's responsibility regarding the migrant influx.

Spain estimates approximately 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco since the crossings last week, while Moroccan authorities report about 40,000 people entered Ceuta. Tragically, the death toll stands at 72 on the Spanish side and 11 on the Moroccan side. Ceuta Regional President Juan Jesus Vivas accused Rabat of encouraging and permitting the influx, while the European Commission president warned against using irregular migration to pressure EU member states.

The local authorities in Ceuta should have anticipated the consequences of a ruling that deactivated illegal migration deterrence.

— Senior Moroccan officialAssigning blame to Ceuta's authorities for not foreseeing the impact of the court ruling.

The Moroccan official clarified that Rabat had not relaxed border controls or reduced security deployments prior to the mass crossing. Morocco's migration control strategy relies on prevention through extensive security personnel along its northern coast and rapid readmissions for migrants entering Spanish territory. The official argued that the July 8 ruling, which limited the immediate return of migrants reaching Spanish enclaves by sea, was exploited by trafficking networks, sending a message that "just cross and you will be protected."

The message became just cross and you will be protected.

— Senior Moroccan officialExplaining how the court ruling emboldened migrant trafficking networks.

Morocco highlighted its consistent efforts, stopping 79,000 attempted crossings in 2024 and 74,000 last year. The official described Moroccan-Spanish cooperation as "exemplary" until the ruling disrupted this consistency. "It is up to Spain to find a solution to restore deterrence," the official concluded, adding that "Morocco will never be complicit in a purely security-based approach to migration."

It is up to Spain to find a solution to restore deterrence.

— Senior Moroccan officialPlacing the onus on Spain to resolve the migration deterrence issue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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