Key facts
- Over one million undocumented migrants and asylum seekers applied to regularize their status in Spain.
- The program offers a one-year residence and work permit to eligible applicants.
- The initiative significantly exceeded the initial expectation of 500,000 applicants.
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the program as crucial for Spain's economic growth and demographic stability.
- Opposition parties, the People's Party and Vox, have criticized the program, with legal challenges initiated.
- A court is assessing potential conflicts between the Spanish decree and EU law.
Spain's government has seen an overwhelming response to its migrant regularization program, with over one million undocumented migrants and asylum seekers applying for legal status. The initiative, initially projected to benefit around 500,000 individuals, offers a one-year residence and work permit to those meeting criteria such as having no criminal record and residing in Spain for at least five months before a specified date.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez championed the program, asserting that immigration is vital for Spain's economic growth, demographic stability, and the funding of its welfare state. He argued that without immigration, Spain's GDP would be significantly lower by 2050, impacting various sectors.
However, the policy has drawn sharp criticism from the rightwing People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party. The PP suggested the program would strain public services, while Vox accused the government of seeking demographic and electoral transformation. Regional governments in Valencia and Aragón have appealed the program, and a court is considering whether parts of the decree conflict with EU law.
Sánchez dismissed accusations of 'electoral engineering' from the PP leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who also criticized a separate democratic memory law. Spain's minister for inclusion, Elma Saiz, called the accusations irresponsible and indicative of political desperation.
Sánchez has consistently advocated for migration's role in national development, contrasting Spain's approach with other European nations adopting stricter policies. He announced a €500 million plan to support migrant integration and citizenship, emphasizing equal treatment, anti-discrimination, and opportunities, while expecting migrants to respect laws and democratic values.