Story perspectives

Spain Fast-Tracks Amnesty for 500,000 Undocumented Migrants

4/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

Spain fast-tracks an amnesty for about 500,000 undocumented migrants, with applications opening April 16.
The measure bypasses parliamentary approval because the government lacks a majority.
Applicants must reside in Spain for at least five months and have no criminal record.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the Partido Popular leader, criticized the plan as 'inhumane and unsustainable,' despite his party's past mass legalizations.
Immigration officers demand more resources to manage the expected influx.

History

Historical Context

Spain's immigration policies have evolved significantly since the 1985 law that first defined undocumented migrants. In 2005, the Socialist Workers' Party enacted an amnesty, legalizing 700,000 undocumented migrants to address labor shortages. The current proposal to legalize 500,000 reflects ongoing debates about immigration, as Spain faces a record influx of migrants, particularly from Senegal and Morocco, highlighting the complexities of managing migrant populations.

1 of 2

Story summary

Spain fast-tracks an amnesty for about 500,000 undocumented migrants, with applications opening April 16.
The measure bypasses parliamentary approval because the government lacks a majority.
Applicants must reside in Spain for at least five months and have no criminal record.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the Partido Popular leader, criticized the plan as 'inhumane and unsustainable,' despite his party's past mass legalizations.
Immigration officers demand more resources to manage the expected influx.

1 / 2