There has been barely any focus on immigration in the parliamentary debate on immigration. Even if the PP had requested the appearance of Pedro Sánchez to deepen this policy, his arguments on ETA boosted its own request. But before the intervention of Alberto Núñez Feojóo, the president of the government endeavored to resume the position with which he has intended for months to face the rise of xenophobia in the Spanish and European political landscape: betting on an approach “humanitarian” aspect of migration management and emphasize its economic dimension in the face of an apparent lack of labor, while making a certain nod to the supposed need for border control and “integration » in response to some of the arguments of anti-immigration positions.
In this perspective, Sánchez mentioned some of the measures that his government has been working on for months, such as reforming immigration regulations to facilitate the procedures necessary to obtain a residence and work permit. He also announced a new initiative, such as “the promotion of an integration project”, which he barely detailed. And he put forward a request made by his executive to the European Commission: to accelerate the entry into force of the European pact on migration, harshly criticized by human rights organizations. However, he did not mention the recent return of dozens of Sahrawi statelessness seekers from Barajas airport nor the rapid and constant returns encouraged from Ceuta and Melilla, issues which have also sparked numerous complaints from civil society.
Simplify permissions
In his speech, Sánchez highlighted the upcoming approval of a reform of immigration law regulations. This is a legislative modification which is not new since it was already announced last December by the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Sáiz. Although it was initially planned to launch in the first half of this year, its approval was delayed. The president clarified that in November he would reach the Council of Ministers.
What does this measure look for? The reform aims to reduce the types of residence and work permits currently in force in order to simplify the documentation and procedures required of foreign citizens who wish to regularize in Spain. With this, the Government will also respect the transposition into the Spanish legal system of two European directives, the single permit and the long-term residence directive.
According to the project made public at the end of July, subject to possible modifications, the reform will simplify the residence authorization system, through the reduction of bureaucracy and the rationalization of requirements. The objective is to alleviate certain usual cumbersome procedures and reduce their delays. For example, one of the groups that will benefit initially will be foreign students, given that the study visa will present several changes, such as the removal of the obligation to renew residency every year or more facilities when transferring from one country to another. from study permits to work authorization, with the aim of capturing the talent of those who studied in Spain.
There will also be new developments for undocumented immigrants residing in Spain who are seeking to obtain a residence permit based on their roots. According to the draft, the period during which they must prove having lived illegally in the country is reduced by one year. This period will be reduced from three to two years. The obligation to present a report on social roots is also removed, although the obligation to present a job offer is maintained, which generally constitutes an obstacle due to the difficulty of achieving this due to one’s situation clandestine.
For undocumented people, an attempt will also be made to correct some of the problems detected in another of the means of regularization, “rooting for training”, created in another reform of immigration regulations, approved by José Luis Escriva in 2022, through undocumented people who have been staying in Spain for two years can obtain a residence permit to follow professional training. The changes aim, for example, to facilitate professional activity while taking these courses.
Another key to reform concerns foreign parents of Spanish citizens. Based on the provisional text, the regulations seek to simplify the ways in which relatives of immigrants who have obtained Spanish nationality can access a residence permit. In addition to unifying the procedure into one – previously there were two formulas which complicated the procedures – the number of family members who can benefit from this type of authorization is now multiplied. It also modifies the maximum age of people who can apply for these permits, setting it at 26 years for descendants; and at 80 years old, for ascendants. Those who benefit from this authorization will also be able to request family reunification and will automatically have a temporary work permit, without having to wait for the final resolution of their request.
The progress of this regulation, which aims to expand the usual channels available to foreigners to obtain a residence permit, goes hand in hand with the parliamentary process of the Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP), promoted by civil society, for the extraordinary regularization of almost It is estimated that 200,000 people live in Spain without papers, the majority of Latin American origin.
“Integration” plan
“In the coming weeks, I announce that we will launch a National Plan for Integration and Intercultural Coexistence, which will have resources and measures to promote the integration of foreigners in our society,” said Sánchez during his appearance. “This plan will aim not only to facilitate their integration in areas such as work, education and social areas, but also to avoid the mistakes of the past,” he added.
The President did not provide any specific measures included in the said National Plan for Integration and Intercultural Coexistence. This media questioned the Ministry of Migration and Moncloa on this subject, but in their responses they do not specify the specific measures that will be linked to the said initiative. Migration Ministry sources explained, generically, that the government “seeks to evolve towards a cohesive, inclusive, diverse and just society, generating wealth, employment and development; and where there is no place for racism, xenophobia and intolerance. According to the department headed by Elma Sáiz, the plan announced by Sánchez is “one more step in achieving the”Strategic framework for citizenship and inclusion, against racism and xenophobia», a document approved in 2023 which responds to the commitment made by EU Member States to adopt national plans against racism.
To develop this objective, the ministry assures that it will benefit from “knowledge and experience in the integration of migrants” accumulated in its reception programs of the asylum system and humanitarian care. “Today, when a person enters our protection system, they go through different phases which aim, precisely, at their full inclusion in our society,” specify the ministerial sources. They also affirm that, to implement it, they will have to rely on the autonomous communities and local entities competent in the matter.
Accelerate the European pact on migration
As Sánchez announced, the Spanish government has asked the European Commission to bring forward the entry into force of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, so that its border control and migrant distribution tools begin to be implemented. be used in summer 2025 and not summer 2026, as planned. This is an agreement widely criticized by human rights organizations, in which a surveillance approach prevails, making access to international protection difficult.
Faced with criticism, the president assured that to apply the said pact, the Executive will have “NGOs and civil associations working on the front line to refine and implement these mechanisms”. The social organizations that met Sánchez this Monday told him his concerns about the deal. “They warned, among other things, against the introduction of new “prior” entry checks, asylum procedures and accelerated border returns, the reduction of procedural guarantees and the risk of over-reliance to detention,” notes a press release published jointly by NGOs such as CEAR, Accem or Red Acoge. “These measures could constitute serious obstacles to access to the right to asylum and would endanger human rights and respect for the principle of non-refoulement, which would aggravate the already enormous situation of vulnerability suffered by many migrants and refugees,” they warned.
