Delays in police stations and Social Security, main obstacles to the regularization of migrants

BarcelonaFinal stretch of the extraordinary regularization process that aims to enable thousands of migrants living and working in Spain (in the underground economy) to obtain residency permits that will allow them to end a life without rights. After a turbulent start over two months ago, during which misinformation and lack of resources led to long queues of applicants for the necessary documentation for the procedures, the process will close on June 30. So far, more than 900,000 applications have been submitted, almost double the 500,000 projected by the Spanish government.

With seven business days left for the Spanish government to close this extraordinary window, problems are mounting due to the administration's collapse in scheduling appointments to continue the process. "These remaining days will be a challenge for many people who have not received their original documentation or cannot afford the fees for sworn translations," points out Mohamed Aït abou Moujane, a member of the board of directors of Ecas (the federation of social action entities) and spokesperson for immigration issues. Due to these and other problems, the Taula del Tercer Sector has urged Pedro Sánchez's executive to extend the process by 15 more days, but for now, there will be no extension. "Many people will be left out of the process because they won't make it," he insists.

This Monday, the Spanish government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, will explain in a press conference the effects of the shock plan to expedite rooting applications and other procedures. In Catalonia, entities authorized to advise and process documentation point to one of the major problems being that the extraordinary process has pushed the National Police stations, already very saturated, even further to their limits, with delays in issuing the provisional identity document, the TIE, for migrants who are already regularized and can already work. Due to this collapse, many people pay between 400 and 500 euros to secure an appointment through lawyers or websites that profit from the promise of obtaining a slot.

According to the entities, among the incidents are the notifications outside the 15-day deadline established by the regulations for the processing of files. Or even the fact that they are not notified. This has caused that in some cases the Social Security number arrives, which certifies that they are fit to work, but not the notification of admission to processing. But, in addition, it is noted that employers still show high resistance to hiring those who already have provisional approval. “Entities must be creative regarding Social Security and to convey legal certainty,” they indicate.

Applicants face the bureaucratic wall of their own countries of origin. Countries like Algeria are not responding to requests for criminal records, or in other cases they are being sent with great delay. This documentation is essential for regularization.

Although the census is not mandatory documentation, according to the regulations approved by the Spanish government, it is documentation that causes headaches, especially among the population that does not have a fixed address or lives in an apartment where they cannot be registered. Then, the resolution of the files is sent to the administrations' offices (social services, town halls, etc.) and they do not always reach their recipient.

"Cohesionar el país"

What will happen to people who cannot regularize their administrative situation? The Spanish government estimated that around 20% of applications would be rejected, but it is also true that it has fallen short with the calculations of 500,000 regularized individuals, as so far there have been almost a million applicants, that is, almost double. Be that as it may, the spokesperson for Ecas states that the refusal will not stop the fight to grant rights, and points out that the next step is to safeguard the Catalan reception model, which places the sense of belonging and Catalan at its center. "We must accompany them, but this does not mean keeping them, but rather being by their side and offering them opportunities to identify with Catalan and have personal advancement," states Aït abou Moujane, who is convinced that only in this way will it be possible to "cohesión the country from plurality".