Spanish Government's Extraordinary Migrant Regularization Sparks Intense Political Debate
Spain's government plans an extraordinary migrant regularization decree facing strong opposition criticism and activist support.
- • Council of Ministers to approve decree for extraordinary migrant regularization granting residency to about 500,000 migrants.
- • PP leader Feijóo criticizes the plan as "absurd" and warns of increased migration and public service strain.
- • Vox leader Abascal calls Sánchez a "tyrant" and promotes deportations of undocumented immigrants.
- • Supporters and migrant activists celebrate the plan as a historic step and call for broader structural reforms.
Key details
The Spanish government's plan to approve a decree for the extraordinary regularization of migrants residing in Spain has triggered significant political reactions and controversy. Scheduled for approval by the Council of Ministers on January 27, 2026, this policy aims to grant residency permits to approximately half a million migrants who have been in Spain since before December 31, 2025, have no criminal records, and can demonstrate at least five months of residence.
The plan, agreed upon with the Podemos party, has received strong criticism from opposition leaders. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party (PP), called Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's migration policy "as absurd as the railway policy". Feijóo warned that the regularization could increase migration's "pull effect" and strain Spain's public services. Santiago Abascal, leader of Vox, labeled Sánchez a "tyrant" and argued the measure would accelerate what he termed an "invasion," advocating deportations of undocumented migrants.
In contrast, supporters hail the initiative as a historic achievement. Silvana Cabrera from the 'Regularización Ya' platform expressed excitement, describing the regularization as a recognition of migrants' lives and dreams amid ongoing structural and institutional racism. Activists emphasize the need to go beyond this measure by abolishing the current immigration law and improving migrant access to housing. The Spanish Commission for Refugees (CEAR) also welcomed the decree as just and necessary for those contributing economically to Spain, while calling for structural mechanisms to facilitate migrant integration.
This announcement comes alongside other significant political events: the Congress resuming an extraordinary session to debate pension reforms without guaranteed parliamentary support, deliberations over the Popular Party's request for updates on the railway shock plan, and a pending Constitutional Court decision regarding former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont's arrest order.
As the government pushes forward, the migrant regularization plan remains a flashpoint illustrating the political divide over immigration in Spain, balancing humanitarian recognition with contentious debates over public resources and national sovereignty.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
