Around 50,000 migrants crossed into Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta this week, causing a mass influx that overwhelmed local authorities. At least 57 people died during the crossings, which led to tighter border security measures across Europe. The Supreme Court ruling on migrant returns, issued on June 29, stated that authorities cannot summarily deport migrants who arrive by sea without due process as they did not cross the physical border infrastructure referenced in Spanish law. However, this ruling does not constitute a sweeping human rights judgment. Other factors such as Spain’s strong economy, a recent regularization program for undocumented migrants, favorable summer conditions at sea, and ongoing economic pressures on young people in Morocco and North Africa could also be factors.