https://www.commondreams.org/news/spain-migrants
"As President Donald Trump terrorizes immigrants and Americans alike with his
deadly mass deportation blitz while warning European leaders to tighten their
borders by raising the racist specter of “civilizational erasure,” Spain’s
government is moving against the xenophobic tide by offering hundreds of
thousands of migrants a chance at permanent legal residency.
The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) government of Prime Minister Pedro
Sánchez and the leftist Podemos party reached an agreement Monday following the
collection of more than 700,000 petition signatures in favor of a legislative
initiative to legalize up to 500,000 undocumented migrants.
Those who can prove that they were in Spain for at least five months before
December 31, 2025 and have no criminal record will be eligible for permanent
legal residency with permission to work.
Spanish Migration Minister Elma Saiz (PSOE) said during a press conference that
“today is a historic day” for starting the process of legalizing hundreds of
thousands of immigrants in a country that has made great strides in overcoming
its legacy of racism and xenophobia.
The far-right Vox party called the legalization plan “madness” that promotes
“barbarity.”
However, Saiz said that legalization will help Spain “recognize, dignify, and
give guarantees” to people who already live and work in the country.
“We’re reinforcing a migratory model based on human rights, on integration, and
on coexistence that’s compatible with both economic growth and social
cohesion,” she added.
Responding to arguments that legalizing so many migrants would severely strain
Spain’s social safety net, Podemos Secretary General Ione Belarra said on
social media, “What overwhelms public services are your cuts and
privatizations.”
Belarra also said that some opponents of legalization are angry that they will
no longer be able to exploit migrants by paying them less than legal workers."
Via Lisa Stranger and Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
