Spain could see an arrival of up to three million migrants and their families within the next year, according to warnings from immigration officials. This projection follows an initiative launched earlier this month by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's socialist government, which allowed over one million undocumented immigrants living and working in the country to apply for legal status.
Officials speaking to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo predict that for every migrant whose status is regularized, at least three additional individuals may arrive through family reunification processes. The number of applications received has more than doubled the government's expectation of 500,000, as registered by the Mercurio platform.
Critics of the government's policy have voiced concerns, suggesting that the process has been weakened by the transfer of authority over police verification from the National Police to the Ministry of Migration. They argue this could lead to less rigorous checks on documents, including criminal records, and potentially be exploited by criminal organizations.
An unnamed official expressed that the current process is ill-advised and could allow individuals to pose as relatives to gain entry, stating that "there may be cases where people from foreign countries pay those who are already legally present to let them pose as relatives, like a child or parents. In other words, paying for papers and certificates." This official noted that such attempts are being detected, though the system may be vulnerable.
The amnesty program, which closed applications earlier this month, required undocumented migrants to have been in Spain since January 1, possess a clean criminal record, and have resided in the country for five consecutive months. Those who applied will have their cases processed in the coming weeks, with decisions expected within three months. Special accommodations have been made for applicants facing difficulties in obtaining proof of a clean criminal record from their home countries.
The anticipated number of regularized migrants is expected to exceed the 500,000 individuals legalized in Spain in 2005 and also surpass Italy's 2002 amnesty, which formalized the status of 634,700 undocumented migrant workers. This approach contrasts with many other European nations, where conservative leaders have been implementing stricter immigration policies. Prime Minister Sanchez has described the amnesty as an act of justice aimed at fostering economic growth and reducing social tensions. The policy has reportedly led to disagreements with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who fears the amnesty could affect the Schengen zone. Spain's main opposition parties, the center-right Partido Popular and the hard-right Vox, have also opposed the measure, arguing it will encourage further illegal immigration.
