Spain’s government finalized a plan to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, a move positioning the country as an outlier in Europe where anti-immigration sentiment is growing. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has championed the measure as both an act of justice and a necessity.
The plan will allow approximately 500,000 unauthorized migrants to apply for temporary residence permits and begin paying taxes. Sanchez argues Spain needs migration to fill workforce gaps and address its ageing population, while also bolstering the social security system.
Many of those who could benefit from the amnesty come from Latin America and African countries, and work in vital sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and the service industry. The government views the initiative as a way to provide legal protections to informal workers.
As other countries increase deportations, Spain’s approach offers a contrasting response to the challenges of irregular migration.