According to the same source, “the migration barrier did not collapse because of smugglers, but because of a Spanish court ruling.”
“Morocco has never failed to meet its commitments and responsibilities,” the source added.
The source recalled that on July 8, a Spanish judge ruled that migrants arriving by sea could not be automatically returned—a measure described by the source as “the cornerstone of our deterrence system.”
In the eyes of traffickers, migrant smugglers, and people seeking to migrate illegally, the ruling “effectively granted immunity to illegal entry by sea,” the source said.
As a direct consequence, the source argued, “the deterrent element of the system collapsed, and the barrier gave way—not under the pressure of criminal networks, but because of a judge’s decision.”
The ruling “was well known to the Spanish authorities. They could not have been unaware that it weakened the entire system,” the source added.
The source went on to ask: “Did anyone alert Morocco so it could prepare? No. Did anyone anticipate the consequences, even though they were entirely foreseeable? No.”
“Under these circumstances, it is hardly surprising that trafficking networks seized the opportunity,” the source said.
The source concluded that the real “game changer” lay in “the gap between the triggering event—the judge’s decision—and the delayed response.”
