MADRID: Spain has announced a plan to provide legal status to approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants, marking a significant move in contrast to stricter immigration policies in other parts of Europe.
According to the Spanish Minister for Migration, José Luis Escrivá, the government is set to approve a decree under which nearly half a million undocumented migrants will be regularized.
The actual number of beneficiaries may vary. Those granted legal status will be allowed to live and work anywhere in the country and in any sector.
Minister Escrivá emphasized that the government aims to create an immigration system aligned with human rights, social inclusion, mutual integration, economic growth, and social cohesion.
The policy will apply to migrants who have resided in Spain for at least five months and have a clean criminal record. It also covers children already living in the country. Applications are expected to open in April and continue until the end of June.
The initiative will be implemented through a government decree, which does not require parliamentary approval, as the coalition government led by the Socialists does not hold a majority.
Opposition parties, including conservatives and right-wing groups, have criticized the plan, claiming it could lead to an increase in illegal immigration.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the policy, stating that immigration is necessary to address labor shortages and the challenges of an aging population.
According to the think tank Funkas, as of early January 2025, around 840,000 undocumented migrants were living in Spain, mostly from Latin America.
The Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) reports that of Spain’s total population of 49.4 million, over 7 million are foreign migrants.
