The Government opposes the state government's regularization of immigrants: "There's no room for us here"

PalmThe Prime Minister, Marga Prohens, has criticized the "irresponsible" extraordinary regularization of migrants which the Council of Ministers plans to approve this Tuesday, and he believes it will contribute to a "new pull factor" in the Balearic Islands. He expressed this sentiment in a message posted on his social media account after learning of the agreement between the PSOE and Podemos parties to approve this measure by royal decree.

"With the Balearic Islands experiencing their worst migration crisis after the arrival of more than 20,000 illegal immigrants in the last five years and facing the challenge of unsustainable population growth, Sánchez is agreeing to a mass regularization that contributes to a new pull factor for our Islands."

In his opinion, it is an "irresponsible mass regularization that rewards irregular entry, encourages the mafias that profit from desperation, and ignores the capacity for integration into society." He added that it also fails to address the housing shortage, the capacity of our services, or the limited natural resources of the archipelago.

Furthermore, he criticized the fact that this regularization will take place while "those who want to stay and contribute legally with an employment contract" find immigration services "overwhelmed."

"There's no room for everyone here, no room for those who don't come to contribute and integrate. Immigration must be legal and orderly. Nationality and residency are earned, not given away," he stated. This extraordinary regularization is for foreigners already in Spain and will be carried out "with the aim of guaranteeing rights and providing legal certainty to an existing social reality," as confirmed by sources at the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration to Europa Press. Since it is by decree, it will not require ratification by Congress.

Agreement requirements

The agreement establishes a series of requirements for regularization, such as the absence of a relevant criminal record, among others. To prove their residence in Spain for five months, migrants may submit documents such as their municipal registration certificate (padrón), medical appointment records, certificates of attendance at social services, or documents such as rental agreements, proof of money transfers, and transportation tickets, among others. Upon submission of the application, any return proceedings or deportation orders for administrative reasons or for working without a permit will be suspended. Once the application is accepted, a provisional residence permit will be granted, allowing the applicant to work legally and access other fundamental rights, such as healthcare. If the decision is favorable, a residence permit will be granted for a period of one year, at the end of which a standard permit may be requested in accordance with immigration regulations.

Government spokesperson and Minister of Social Security, Migration, and Inclusion, Elma Saiz, explained this Tuesday that the extraordinary regularization of migrants, which the executive branch has agreed upon with Podemos, will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for regularization between the beginning of April and June 30. With this decree, the executive branch resumes the mandate of the Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP), supported by more than 700,000 signatures, whose consideration was endorsed in 2024 by all parliamentary groups except Vox (310 votes in favor and 33 against), although it remains in effect.

The text was introduced in the Catalan Parliament earlier, during the previous legislature, but did not lapse because ILPs do not lapse upon the dissolution of the Valencian Parliament (Les Corts). Although some progress has been made in this legislature, the complex parliamentary arithmetic has prevented it from advancing beyond its initial consideration.

Services strained by immigration, according to the Executive

The Director General of Immigration, Manuel Pavón, also defended the argument that mass regularizations convey the idea that irregular migration "has its rewards." Furthermore, Pavón asserted that regularization will put "pressure on healthcare, education, and public services," which, he emphasized, "are already strained." Pavón did not respond to ARA Baleares' question regarding the fact that the majority of migrants arriving in the Balearic Islands are European, not African, and requested information from the Spanish government about the requirements for regularization.