Reports indicate that at least 285 immigrants in pre-trial detention within Spanish prisons have sought to be included in the socialist government’s ambitious amnesty initiative.
In recent months, nearly 1.2 million undocumented immigrants in Spain have applied for “legal” immigration status, work permits, and various benefits through the government’s controversial mass amnesty plan. This figure significantly surpasses the initial estimate of “500,000” claimed by Spanish officials.
To qualify for the amnesty, applicants were required to submit paperwork by June 30, meeting much less rigorous criteria. The administration of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has set a three-month period starting this month to handle all incoming applications.
According to the Spanish outlet Okay, Diario, out of the approximately 1.2 million applicants, 285 migrants currently in pre-trial detention have applied for amnesty. The Spanish General Secretariat of Prisons did not clarify how many of these detainees are incarcerated for serious offenses. When asked, prison officials noted that “Pre-trial detention does not imply guilt,” as stated in the report.
Authorities specified that because these individuals are in pre-trial detention, determining the nature or severity of the alleged crimes is complicated, as evidence and case details will come out during the proceedings, per the report from Okay, Diario.
The prison system records pre-trial detention orders as factual data, and the seriousness of the crime can vary. Still, the detention continues throughout the criminal process, according to the agency.
There are instances of applicants having prior felony convictions, as highlighted by Okay, Diario.
Just last week, the outlet reported on a 33-year-old Algerian man who, on June 6, was apprehended for sexually assaulting and injuring a 19-year-old Spanish woman severely. He was released shortly after testifying in court and is awaiting a new hearing.
An anonymous police official noted to Okay, Diario that this Algerian man is among those who have sought amnesty in recent weeks. He arrived in Spain less than a year ago and reportedly had “no criminal record.”
In a similar vein, Okay, Diario previously reported that migrants, including Moroccans facing jihadism accusations and Bolivians involved in drug trafficking, were looking for guidance on how to become amnesty beneficiaries.
The Spanish administration asserts that undocumented immigrants requesting amnesty must show proof of a clean criminal record and that they don’t pose a threat to public order, safety, or health.
However, the Spanish government reportedly revised its criteria in April, just days before opening applications, claiming that an entry on a police report alone shouldn’t automatically disqualify someone from consideration. Various reports at the time raised concerns about possible collusion between prison authorities and immigrant detainees in navigating the amnesty application process.
