Spain to Grant Amnesty to 500,000 Illegal Immigrants

Spain’s socialist government is set to offer amnesty to over 500,000 undocumented immigrants through a deal with the far-left party, Podemos. This initiative will allow those who can demonstrate a clean criminal record and have been in the country for at least five months to apply for a residence permit by December 31, 2025.

The amnesty scheme, running until June 30, will be enacted via royal decree, bypassing the need for parliamentary approval. This underscores a collaboration between the ruling Socialist Party and Podemos, which is part of the coalition government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Irene Montero, a member of Podemos and former Equality Minister, expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, “Comrades, we will combat racism with our rights. If individuals have committed serious crimes, we will still ensure they are documented.”

According to Montero, Podemos has firmly reached an agreement with the Socialist Party for the swift approval of this extraordinary regularization for migrants, emphasizing that documentation equates to rights.

Podemos Secretary General Ione Berara further commented, “More rights will stop fascism.”

This move marks the first significant amnesty since 2005, when former Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero allowed for the regularization of nearly 700,000 illegal immigrants. Current estimates from the think tank Funcas indicate there are about 840,000 undocumented migrants in Spain, a drastic rise compared to 2017, with most hailing from Latin American nations such as Colombia, Honduras, and Peru.

However, the proposed amnesty has faced criticism from Santiago Abascal, leader of the anti-immigration VOX party, who labeled Prime Minister Sánchez a “tyrant” and accused him of attempting to replace the Spanish population through this policy. Abascal argued that decisive actions like repatriation and deportation are necessary.