Around 50,000 migrants crossed into Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta this week, a mass influx that overwhelmed local authorities. Spanish officials including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said human trafficking networks encouraged the crossings, by misrepresenting a recent Supreme Court ruling on migrant returns. Spanish Supreme Court rulingOn June 29, Spain's Supreme Court issued a ruling stating that authorities cannot summarily deport migrants who arrive by sea without due process, because they did not cross the physical border infrastructure referenced in Spanish law. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement Advertisement"The idea is to facilitate the work of the police, but it doesn't mean these people can stay in Ceuta." Meanwhile, Sánchez has already announced plans to install floating barriers in the water around Ceuta – a move the government says would comply with the Supreme Court ruling while restoring the ability to carry out immediate returns.