MADRID: Spain has decided to grant legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants in the country.
The Spanish Minister for Migration, José Luis Escrivá, announced that the government is preparing to approve a decree that will legalize the status of approximately half a million migrants.
Escrivá stated that the number of migrants benefiting from this decision could be higher or lower, but those who gain legal status will be allowed to work anywhere in the country and in any sector. The Spanish government is also aiming to create an immigration system that aligns with human rights, social inclusion, mutual harmony, economic development, and social cohesion.
The beneficiaries of this decision will include individuals who have been residing in Spain for at least five months. Applicants must also have a clean criminal record. The decision will also apply to children of these migrants who are already living in Spain.
Applications are expected to start in April and continue until the end of June. The plan will be implemented through an official decree, meaning it will not require approval from the Spanish Parliament, as the socialist-led coalition government does not hold a majority there.
Conservative and right-wing opposition parties have criticized the decision, claiming it will lead to an increase in illegal immigration.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the decision, stating that immigration is necessary to address Spain’s workforce shortages and the challenges posed by the aging population.
According to the think tank Funcas, by January 2025, approximately 840,000 undocumented migrants were residing in Spain, the majority of whom were from Latin America. Recent figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute show that out of the country’s total population of 49.4 million, over 7 million are foreign-born migrants.
Comments are closed.