10 Oct

Spain to Accelerate Process for Migrants Seeking Documentation

Immigration Regulations in Spain will be modified by the government in November in a bid to accelerate the process of obtaining papers for migrants living in Spain.

The new changes will eliminate bureaucratic procedures, organise the figures of roots, and create new figures around employment as well as family networks. 

Such comments have been made by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, Schengen.News reports. 

His announcement has been made in the Congress of Deputies following negotiations with social actors, according to a report from 20 Minutos. 

In spite of announcing the new changes, Sánchez didn’t provide any details related to the adjustments that will be applied to comply with the recommendations of the European Commission. 

Spain to Introduce a Plan for Integration of Migrants 
The President of the Government also vowed to reactivate the Family Law in the following weeks in a bid to expand the rights of large families, migrants, single-parent families, as well as those families that have a member with a disability. 

In addition, Sánchez said that the Spanish government will launch a plan for the integration of migrants who settle in this country.

He also mentioned the creation of a total of 6,000 places in reception centres for minors and more support for the autonomous communities that need it. 

Only 6% of Migrants Come to Spain Irregularly 
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, denied the “rumour” that the majority of migrants come in an irregular way in Spain. He said that only 6 per cent of migrants arrive irregularly in this country, crossing the sea or the fences of Ceuta and Melilla. 

In addition, he said that of the total number of migrants, only 40 per cent were Latin Americans, a total of 30 per cent European and 20 per cent African. 

He emphasised that internationals who reach Spain have an activity rate four points higher than nationals, contribute ten per cent of Social Security income, and use public services as well as social benefits 40 per cent less than those born in Spain. 

Irregular Migrants Almost Doubled in 2023 
Official data revealed that last year about 57,000 migrants reached Spain in an irregular way, on the Canary Islands from West Africa or almost double the figures registered in 2022. 

Based on the figures from the Interior Ministry, a total of 56,852 migrants reached Spain irregularly in 2023 by land and sea, marking an 82 per cent year-on-year increase and the highest increase in the number of migrants since 2018 in which year the number of irregular migrants was 64,298.

Source: https://schengen.news/spain-to-accelerate-process-for-migrants-seeking-documentation/