Spanish Government Announces Landmark Regularisation Plan
The Spanish government has unveiled a controversial plan to regularise approximately half a million undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, aiming to boost economic growth and social cohesion. This decision, announced this week, represents a significant departure from prevailing European political trends and has ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum.
Political Opposition and Support
Conservative and far-right parties have voiced strong opposition to the measure. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the People's party (PP), criticised the move as rewarding "illegality" and warned it could overwhelm public services. Santiago Abascal of the far-right Vox party went further, denouncing it as facilitating an "invasion" designed to replace Spaniards with foreigners.
However, the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' party (PSOE) defends the policy as necessary recognition of reality. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has previously stated that migration is "one of the great drivers of the development of nations," contrasting it with what he calls the destructive force of hatred and xenophobia.
Hope for Undocumented Workers
For many undocumented migrants living in Spain, the announcement has been met with profound relief. A young Bangladeshi man, who arrived fourteen months ago and asked to remain anonymous, described the decree as "like a gift from God." Currently selling umbrellas on Madrid's streets for between €200 and €400 monthly, he spoke of constant worries about rent and supporting his family back home, alongside being unable to access public housing or healthcare.
Mohammed Elahi Alam Alam, president of the Valiente Bangla Association which supports undocumented workers in Madrid, welcomed the decision. He emphasised the essential roles immigrants play in sectors often shunned by Spanish nationals, asking: "Who's going to work in the fields? Immigrants. Who's going to work in the restaurants? Immigrants. Who's going to look after people's families? Immigrants?"
Latin American Perspectives
The regularisation programme also offers hope to many Latin American women working informally as cleaners, cooks, and carers. Rosa, a Colombian woman who arrived nearly two years ago, described the sacrifices made for a better life and the exploitation some face, with employers deliberately hiring undocumented workers to avoid proper pay and social security contributions. For her, the programme represents a chance to earn more than €120 weekly and access legal protections.
Historical Precedent and Economic Benefits
Despite current political controversy, regularisation programmes are not unprecedented in Spain. Similar initiatives were enacted by both PP and socialist governments between 1986 and 2005. Research indicates such policies can yield significant economic benefits.
Joan Monràs, a labour economist and co-author of a study on the 2005 regularisation of almost 600,000 non-EU immigrants, noted that tax revenues increased by approximately €4,000 per regularised immigrant annually. The study found no evidence of a "magnet effect" encouraging further arrivals. It also documented improved career paths, with domestic workers often moving to larger companies and higher salaries within six months of entering the formal labour market.
Broader Implications and Reactions
The decree grants official resident status but not citizenship or voting rights in general elections. It has provoked anger from far-right groups across Europe and spawned fake news stories on social media. Elon Musk reposted a claim about "electoral engineering," to which Sánchez replied: "Mars can wait. Humanity can't."
Campaigners have highlighted the human impact. Edith Espínola of the Regularisation Now! movement stated that regularisation allows people to "feel like a citizen and a person," enabling them to work, study, and live with dignity. Catholic groups, including the Spanish conference of bishops' migration department, view the measure as "an act of social justice" recognising migrants' contributions to national development.
Addressing Demographic Challenges
The policy comes as Spain grapples with an ageing population and low birthrate, making immigration a crucial demographic and economic factor. The government argues that well-managed migration is essential for future prosperity, positioning this regularisation as a pragmatic response to both humanitarian needs and labour market demands.
