The Spanish Embassy in Morocco has issued a statement on the Cuesta crisis, stressing that entering Spain irregularly through the Spanish enclaves does not grant the right to remain in the country.
The embassy’s remarks came in response to the mass crossings into the Spanish enclave that took place on Thursday last week, where over 40,000 headed to the enclave, according to official data from the Moroccan government.
Spanish authorities alleged that the number is more than 70,000.
A Moroccan government source said a Spanish judge cannot break the system tackling irregular migration through the July 8 ruling and ask Morocco to bear the consequences of the ensuing mass crossings.
Reports and politicians have also blamed the court ruling, which they insist was exploited by smugglers and fake accounts orchestrated by some parties. Critics argue the ruling played into smugglers’ hands, who used it to convince waves of migrants that Spain’s borders were open and that all they needed to reach their “Europe dream ” was to cross into Ceuta.
Read also: Ceuta Crisis: Facts and Political Context Over Conspiracy
The embassy said entering Spain through the enclaves does not grant any right to remain in the country, travel to mainland Spain, or move freely within Europe.
“Moreover, it poses a serious risk to life. No court ruling changes this reality,” the embassy said, adding that the Supreme Court ruling “clarifies the procedures applicable to migrants arriving by sea—nothing more.”
It emphasized that the ruling does not amend the Immigration Law.
The embassy refers to the July 8 decision in which Spain’s Supreme Court ruled against “hot returns” of migrants who cross into Ceuta by swimming.
Following the mass crossings that took place last week, Spain and Morocco responded to the crisis by agreeing on the immediate return of the migrants and to reinforce their joint migration policy.
Most of the migrants who crossed have already returned home as part of Rabat’s swift cooperation with Madrid. Morocco’s total cooperation with Spain in the crisis has been commended by both EU officials and Spanish government officials.
The Spanish embassy also recalled the implementation of a 500-meter maritime barrier at the Tarajal breakwater.
“Almost everyone who crossed the border on July 30 has already been returned to Morocco,” it said, stating that the extraordinary regularization process has no connection to these events.
It emphasized that the process applies only to people who were already living in Spain before January 1.
“Anyone who entered the country on July 30 is excluded. The only route is through legal channels,” the embassy said, stating that Ceuta and Melilla operate under a “unique border control system in Europe based on a double-check mechanism.”
The embassy stressed that a first control is carried out at the border with Morocco, while a second Schengen control takes place when departing for mainland Spain by sea or air, emphasizing that no one can travel without identifying themselves to the National Police.
