The regularization plan for illegal immigrants promoted by Pedro Sánchez has already received more than 900,000 applications and could exceed one million before the end of June
Extreme difficulties have been reported for citizens from Algeria, Cuba, Guinea Conakry, or Gambia, who are unable to obtain the criminal record certificate due to the absence of the Hague Apostille mechanism.
The decree for mass regularization of illegal immigrants, driven by the socialist government of Pedro Sánchez, has caused an unprecedented call effect. With only 15 days left until the deadline on June 30, official figures confirm the administrative chaos and lack of control at Spanish borders.
According to data released by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, led by Elma Saiz, 900,000 applications from foreigners seeking to legalize their status have already been counted, representing a new historical record for the country. Of this mass of applications, nearly 360,000 have already been admitted for processing, allowing applicants to begin working immediately with the approval of the Secretary of State for Migration.
The magnitude of the process is such that the organization CEAR and the Secretary of State, Pilar Cancela, are already projecting that the total number of applications will far exceed 1,000,000 before the program ends. This figure doubles the government's original forecasts, highlighting a complete lack of planning and an open-door policy that has overwhelmed social services.
From a more particular perspective, the process has not been without tensions. Various social entities have reported what they consider "bureaucratic hurdles, police controls, and express deportations" since the deadline began on April 16.
In light of this scenario, the Regularization Now movement has demanded that the Executive, through its coalition partners and separatist parties such as Podemos, Sumar, Eh Bildu, ERC, and BNG, extend the deadlines and immediately halt any expulsions.
In detail, applicants must prove their arrival in Spain before December 31, 2015 and demonstrate at least five months of continuous residence.
However, spokespersons like Silvana Cabrera from Regularization Now in Valencia report situations of extreme vulnerability, even describing certain working conditions of domestic workers as "modern slavery" due to the impossibility of leaving their jobs to process documentation.
Meanwhile, the director of CEAR, Mónica López, is pushing for this extraordinary regularization to stop being an exception and become a "structural measure", which would facilitate a constant and inexhaustible flow of immigration to the national territory.
