The regularization overflows expectations: 1.2 million applications, the majority from Latin Americans

BarcelonaFinal balance of the extraordinary regularization of migrants approved by the Spanish government. Finally, 1,174,978 people have submitted their application to benefit from the process. This is a figure that exceeds the forecast of half a million made by Pedro Sánchez's executive when it announced the opening of the procedure, the seventh of its kind in democracy and the first in 20 years. Of the total applications, more than 50% have already been admitted for processing, and therefore the beneficiaries already have a first temporary authorization for residence and to work in Spain. The majority of the applicant migrants are Latin Americans, specifically 67%, of whom 27% are Colombians. Applications from Moroccan migrants also stand out in the top positions, occupying second place. The Minister of Inclusion, Elma Saiz, has announced that Catalonia is the territory that has registered the most applications, 257,000, meaning two out of every 10. Following behind, in this order, are the Community of Madrid (202,000), the Valencian Community (167,000) and Andalusia (161,000).

The regularization has reached its final stage amidst fierce attacks from the right and far-right on Moncloa's immigration policy and amid a legal battle in the Supreme Court. The high court, in fact, has expressed doubts about the compatibility of the process with European law and is considering raising a preliminary question to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), based in Luxembourg. However, the experts consulted by ARA agree that it is unlikely that these judicial movements will have immediate effects on the applications submitted.

In a video message, Elma Saiz emphasized that the extraordinary measure will allow "hundreds of thousands of people who already reside in our country, but who live in fear and without rights, to face the future with enthusiasm and hope". "We are facing a successful procedure, a true milestone in our immigration policy and a collective effort that we can be very proud of," celebrated the minister.

The application period opened online on April 16 and closed last Tuesday, June 30, amid demands from the initiators of the measure, some social entities and political parties such as Sumar or Podemos to extend this period, considering it insufficient due to bureaucratic hurdles encountered in requesting the vulnerability certificate, a requirement proposed days before the start of the process by the State Council.

The measure, approved by the Government by royal decree, arises from a popular legislative initiative (ILP) that reached Congress with the support of more than 600,000 signatures, but was blocked in the lower house due to a lack of parliamentary agreement. All migrant individuals who had been living irregularly in Spain since before January 1 and had been residing in the country for at least five months could submit their application, as well as anyone who had applied for asylum before the same date, provided they have no criminal record.