Fact

The Supreme Court said the law does not allow border rejection of people trying to swim into Ceuta or Melilla

Permanent link https://ceutafacts.org/en/fichas/814-2026/

The Supreme Court note on judgment 814/2026 of 29 June 2026 explains that the border rejection provided for Ceuta and Melilla does not apply to someone intercepted at sea while trying to enter by swimming, but to someone trying to overcome physical containment elements, such as the fences.

• The judiciary's note identifies the ruling as STS 814/2026 and places the doctrine on 29 June 2026.
• According to that note, drones, thermal cameras or sensors are not, in principle, the same as a containment element: they watch and detect, they do not physically stop a crossing.
• The note adds that if containment elements were installed at sea, rejection could apply to someone trying to overcome them.