Supreme Court Ruling on Sea Returns Fuels Migrant Surge into Spain's Ceuta

A July 2026 Spanish Supreme Court ruling barred returning migrants intercepted at sea to Morocco, removing a key rapid-pushback mechanism. Spain's Interior Ministry says smuggling networks are exploiting the ruling to drive a surge into Ceuta, where up to 3,000 migrants have crossed in ten days. A Guardia Civil spokesperson described the July 30 influx as "an explosion."