Morocco says it warned Spain after court ruling on migration law

Moroccan officials have accused Spain of failing to foresee the impact of a recent court ruling on the country's migration policies. The ruling, which came into effect on July 8, weakened a key deterrent against illegal migration, leading to a mass influx of migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Morocco. Spanish authorities estimate that around 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco since the crossing, while Moroccan authorities claim approximately 40,000 people entered the enclave.

The death toll on the Spanish side stands at 72, while 11 individuals lost their lives on the Moroccan side. Ceuta's regional president, Juan Jesus Vivas, accused Morocco of "encouraging and permitting" the influx, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautioned against using irregular migration to pressure an EU member state.

Moroccan authorities attribute the mass crossings to the deactivation of illegal migration deterrence resulting from the court ruling. Morocco has deployed around 24,000 security personnel along its northern coast and enforced rapid readmissions for migrants who enter Spanish territory illegally. The July ruling quickly became a tool for trafficking networks, with the Moroccan official stating, "The message became just cross and you will be protected."

Morocco had not altered its border controls or security deployments before the mass crossing. The Moroccan migration-control approach has been effective, with Rabat stopping 79,000 attempted crossings in 2024 and 74,000 in 2023. Moroccan officials described the cooperation between Morocco and Spain on border control as "exemplary" until the ruling disrupted years of consistency.

Moroccan authorities emphasized that it is up to Spain to restore deterrence, stating that Morocco will not be complicit in a security-based approach to migration.