Spain opens doors to migrants as over 1 million apply for legal status

Spain is rolling out a sweeping migrant regularization program even as other European countries tighten their borders.

More than 1 million people have applied for legal residency under a Spanish government program that grants status to migrants living in the country without authorization, AFP reported Monday, citing the center-left Socialist government.

The government announced the policy earlier this year, targeting long-term residents with no criminal record, and had initially expected about 500,000 people to benefit.

A local think tank estimated that as of early last year, about 840,000 non-EU migrants were living in Spain without authorization — roughly one-third of all non-EU migrants in the country. Many are from Latin America or Africa and work in agriculture, tourism and care sectors.

The move stands in contrast to policies adopted by many European nations, which have sought to reduce migration on the grounds that it strains national economies and social systems.

Right-wing parties in Spain and elsewhere in Europe have criticized the program, arguing it will encourage more illegal immigration.

The Spanish government maintains that immigration benefits the economy by expanding the labor force in sectors such as agriculture and construction. Some analysts have also noted that Latin American migrants tend to integrate relatively easily in Spain due to shared language and cultural ties.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, speaking at an event in Madrid on Monday, said the more than 1 million applications demonstrated "that recognizing rights and responsibilities in this way is essential." He added: "Marginalizing people makes the country worse off and we all lose. We want Spain to be seen as a country that respects and protects human rights."

Sanchez acknowledged the "tensions" and "challenges" that come with immigration, but argued that "stoking fear and fueling xenophobia solves none of the problems."

He also announced that the government would invest 505 million euros (about 890 billion won) in social integration programs, including vocational training and language education.

Britain's center-left Labour government, by contrast, is maintaining a tougher stance on borders. An immigration and asylum bill introduced Monday includes a provision requiring refugees granted residency in the UK to repay benefits they previously received once they begin earning income in the country, according to the BBC.

The policy would require working migrants to repay a set amount — expected to be around 10,000 pounds (about 20.5 million won) — though the income threshold that would trigger repayment has not yet been determined.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the UK "has always provided refuge to those fleeing war and persecution, but this system can only survive if the public trusts it to be fair, controlled and not abused." She added: "If people are able to give back to the generosity of the British people, we want them to do so."

The British government spent about 4 billion pounds (about 8.2 trillion won) last year on housing and other support for asylum seekers. Mahmood called the figure "far too high."