Spain welcomes record influx of 500,000 migrants from Western countries

Spain to Grant Legal Status to 500,000 Undocumented Migrants

Madrid, Spain – The Spanish government has announced plans to regularize the status of approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants living in the country. This move is expected to provide a pathway to legal residency for individuals who have been working in Spain without official papers.

According to Spanish Migration Minister Elma Saiz, beneficiaries will be able to work in any sector and part of the country, with the goal of recognizing their contributions to society. The government has stated that this measure aims to give dignity to people already living in Spain.

The policy change is seen as a departure from other European countries, such as Denmark, Germany, and Austria, which have implemented stricter immigration policies. In the United States, similar measures have not been taken.

NGO representatives, including Laetitia Van der Vennet of the Platform for Undocumented Immigrants, have welcomed the move, citing its potential to address workforce gaps and counteract an aging population in Spain.

Individuals who will benefit from this policy include migrants such as Ousman Umar, who spent five years trying to reach Europe after leaving his home country. He was eventually adopted by a family and has since founded an NGO that provides training and computers to children in Ghana.

Lamine Sar, another migrant who arrived in Spain 18 years ago, also expressed support for the policy change. “This is a huge step forward,” he said. “It will mean these people contribute to society instead of being used in a kind of slavery in the black economy.”

The measure will apply to individuals living in Spain for at least five months and who had applied for international protection before December 31, 2025. Applications are expected to begin in April and run until June.

Source: Al Jazeera