The Spanish government has approved a plan to grant legal status to at least 500,000 illegal migrants, thereby formally allowing them to enter the labor market. According to some reports, the measure could affect as many as 800,000 people.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez describes the decision as both “an act of justice” and a necessary measure for the country. In a letter to the Spanish people, published on social media, the socialist head of government wrote that the mass regularization aims to “acknowledge the reality” for nearly half a million people already living in Spain.

The President’s letter on social media

According to the government’s plan, those covered by the measure can receive a one-year residence permit, with the possibility of extension. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that they have already resided in the country for at least five months and have no criminal record. Applications can be submitted from April 16 until the end of June.

Strong criticism

The decision has met with strong criticism. Santiago Abascal, leader of the conservative party Vox, accused the socialist-led coalition of accelerating what he called an “invasion.” Pepa Millán, spokesperson for Vox, said the plan “threatens our identity” and promised that the party would appeal to the Supreme Court in an attempt to halt it.

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The Partido Popular (PP) has also promised to try to stop the reform. The party argues that the government is, in practice, rewarding illegal immigration and sending signals that risk attracting even more migrants to Spain.

Sánchez defends the measure by saying that, in his view, the migrants are needed to sustain the economy and staff public services in a country with an aging population. He also points out that historically, Spain itself has been a country of emigration, with many Spaniards leaving in search of better opportunities abroad.

Could reach 800,000

According to the think tank Funcas, there are around 840,000 illegal migrants in Spain. The LA Times also suggests that this is the number the measure will ultimately affect. The opposition, however, questions the government’s calculations and claims that the actual number of people covered could be closer to one million. The PP has called the plan “scandalous.”

The Spanish reform comes at the same time that several other European countries are moving in the opposite direction, tightening their immigration policies. Spain has also carried out similar amnesties before, under both socialist and conservative governments. The most recent major regularization was in 2005, when 577,000 people received residence permits under a socialist government.

Jordan Bardella, leader of Le Pen’s party Rassemblement National and member of the European Parliament, has also responded to the Spanish government’s decision with harsh criticism, calling for the free movement within the EU to be restricted to European citizens only.

Facsimile X

Over the years, numerous video clips have circulated showing large groups of illegal migrants storming into Spain.

The popular social media commentator Miles Cheong described the situation earlier this year as an “unprecedented migrant invasion”:

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