Spain Approves Residency for 500,000 Undocumented Migrants

Spain's government approved a major immigration reform on Tuesday, granting legal residency to an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants living in the country. The policy, formalized through a royal decree, allows eligible individuals to apply for a one-year renewable residence and work permit, marking one of the largest regularization efforts in Europe in recent decades. The measure targets migrants who have contributed to Spain's economy while living without authorization, primarily in sectors like agriculture, tourism, and services.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the initiative as both an act of justice and an economic necessity. In a social media post, he stated, "We recognize rights, but we also demand obligations." Sánchez emphasized that the reform acknowledges the reality of nearly half a million people who already form part of everyday life in Spain, a nation of 50 million where foreign-born residents now comprise 20 percent of the population. Many come from Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia, as well as Morocco, fleeing instability to fill labor shortages amid Spain's aging demographic.

To qualify, applicants must prove they...