Papers for those who are already there

“Coming and kicking down the door is rewarded in Spain”, says Jorge Buxadé, Secretary General of Vox, to refer to the regularization of immigrants. But the majority of people who will benefit from this measure have not arrived by kicking down any doors: they have been inside for years, often opening and closing our doors every day —and assuming care that, as a society, we are not resolving.Around half a million people: a staggering figure. This is why Feijóo talks about "bulk" regularization and the opposition stirs up the ghost of the pull effect. But the data do not support this fear: neither the 2005 regularization —which granted papers to more than 576,000 people— nor any other regularization in Spain generated any measurable effect, according to available studies. Migration flows depend on the economic cycle and the situation in the countries of origin, not on the host country's reception policies. And the requirement for this measure is clear: you must prove that you were in Spain before January 1, 2026. It is not those who arrive who are regularized, but those who are already here — people who have been working and living in our neighborhoods for years, often without any formal right to recognize it.But, beyond the controversy, is it a good measure? Most of these people already work, but in the underground economy, without paying contributions or having labor rights. Regularization does not create new labor – it is already there – but rather removes it from precariousness and incorporates it into Social Security. Several studies find that the fiscal impact of immigration is "clearly positive": they contribute more than they receive. Giving papers to people who are already here is also the most effective way to know who they are and where they are. And, finally, a society that benefits from someone's work without recognizing any rights is an exploitative society. At a time when Europe is toughening its migration policies, Sánchez is going against the current.

However, this measure has two problems. The first is a design issue: a regularization of this magnitude has been approved by decree, without broad parliamentary agreement. A stable immigration policy requires consensus; a decree can be challenged, blocked, or reversed — and in fact, the Community of Madrid has already challenged it before the Supreme Court, which has admitted the appeal for processing. The second problem is one of implementation. The process has started with queues, computer failures, and a lack of staff. Public offices are overwhelmed and the system was not prepared to handle hundreds of thousands of applications in a few months. And from the summer, when the SEPE and other organizations come into play, the collapse could extend even further.Criticisms of the design and implementation are legitimate. But they should not make us forget that, despite everything, this measure arrives —late and imperfectly— to recognize people that the State has ignored for years.