Walter Finch
SPAIN is set to regularise the status of approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants currently living and working within its borders.
The proposed legislation, originally supported by over 600,000 signatures from members of the public, could provide long-awaited rights to these individuals, many of whom have been in the country for years.
Vice President Yolanda Díaz, one of the leading figures of the Sumar coalition, announced the breakthrough on social media.
She tweeted: “Half a million people are closer to gaining rights. Half a million people who live and work in our country, who are our neighbours. We mustn’t waste another minute. Against racism, for rights.”
The legislation calls for undocumented migrants who were already living in Spain before November 1, 2021, to be given residency.
Proponents have argued that their contributions to society are invaluable and that their rights have been consistently violated over the years spent navigating Spain’s restrictive immigration policies.
Many of these workers, who play an integral part of Spanish society, have found themselves in a precarious legal situation, working cash in hand in the black market.
The move is seen as a significant departure from previous policies and aligns with Spain’s growing recognition of the importance of migrant labour, especially in sectors such as agriculture and care work.
Senegalese immigrant Lamine Sarr, spokesperson for the movement pushing for the regularisation, has highlighted the systemic discrimination many face.
He noted that the current immigration laws make it virtually impossible for undocumented families, many of whom have lived in Spain for years, to access basic rights like healthcare and education.
“We are trapped in a perverse system that forces us to live in extreme precarity,” Sarr said.
He also noted the case of children born in Spain who, due to their parents’ immigration status, inherit their legal limbo.
Among the 500,000 individuals who could benefit from this law are agricultural workers, sex workers, and seasonal labourers, all of whom remain outside the formal economy and are unable to fully contribute to society without legal status.
The origins of this legislative proposal trace back two years to the RegularizacionYa movement, a grassroots coalition of migrants and anti-racism organisations from across Spain.
Their campaign succeeded in collecting over 700,000 signatures, significantly surpassing the 500,000 needed to bring the proposal before Parliament.
This is a strange law proposed by the current government
Illegal immigrants are exactly that . If you grant a general amnesty based solely on length of stay as an illegal entrant then you reward law breaking and encourage more illegal immigrants.
Spain has a system to deal with asylum seekers and it has an immigration system .
The country may well need younger people to work taking into account an ageing population but it needs to chose them on statutory grounds , which it can vary if the need for more immigrants arises . It is bad policy to reward crime
And who are these illegal immigrants ? Which counties do they come from ? What is their religion ? How likely are they to successfully integrate and over what period of time into a Judeo Christian country like Spain ? Look at the discontent that so many in other European countries are displaying at the invasion , as they see it , of their home by vast numbers of foreigners with no or little cultural and religious connection to the host nation . Does Spain really want this ? In Spain today around 12 % of voters support Vox . That means most Spaniards do not but apart from the new 500,000 voters [who we assume will vote for the Left – doubtless one of the reasons why this government wants to enfranchise them] does such a sweeping endorsement of law breaking and the granting of citizenship to people who may be profoundly un Spanish mean that more people are going to vote for moderate parties . Look at France , Germany , the Netherlands , Austria and Italy for the answer. And look at the United Kingdom where from nothing Reform obtained 14% of the vote this Summer .
Vox may do rather better in the upcoming European elections than is predicted . Many Spaniards might not want this but by threatening to increase the population of Spain by around 1.2 per cent in one go the Left may find themselves the recipients of unintended consequences.
Of course , some of these potential soon to be legalised illegal entrants may by now speak Spanish and have some idea of the culture and traditions of the country but many will not. Living under the radar is not conducive to integration. And this government is proposing to foist half a million of such people on existing Spanish citizens.
Be warned. This does not work , ask why so many English people are moving to Spain . It is not just for sun and sangria . And even if you are not a supporter of Vox such a move will encourage affiliation and with it polarisation and eventually the risk of violence.
A wise country does not undermine the rule of the law and reward law breakers and it does not force on its citizens vast numbers of foreigners as fellow citizens .
A wise country deports illegal immigrants and adapts its immigration system so as to allow in workers and potential future citizens from countries whose populations have linguistic , cultural and religious similarities with its own . Spain is blessed in this respect in its South and Central American connections . Immigrants who share none of these characteristics can be welcomed but only in small numbers . 500, 000 is not small and Spain should not make the mistake in believing that multiculturalism works or that assimilation is achieved merely by the bestowal of citizenship .
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