Spanish authorities should have anticipated the consequences of a court ruling that weakened a key deterrent against illegal migration and contributed ​to last week's mass crossings into the enclave of Ceuta in ‌northern Morocco, a senior Moroccan official said on Monday. Spain estimates that about 69,500 migrants have returned from Ceuta to Morocco since last week's crossing, while Moroccan authorities say about 40,000 people ​entered the enclave. The local authorities in Ceuta should have anticipated the consequences of a ruling that deactivated illegal migration deterrence, the senior government official told reporters ​in a first briefing since the crisis unfolded. The Spanish ruling on July 8 ​limited the immediate return of migrants who reach the Spanish enclaves by sea. "Europe asks us ​to stop migrants from crossing, but on the other side ​they roll ⁠the red carpet when they cross!"