Proof of clean criminal record to be required in Spain's migrant regularisation plan

The Spanish government will introduce changes to its royal decree on the regularisation of migrants, which is set to be approved by the cabinet on Tuesday.

The modifications largely incorporate adjustments requested by the Council of State.

Government sources told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) applicants will be required to prove they have no criminal record.

Officials stressed that this has always been a requirement under Spain's immigration law.

The move comes as the Socialist government prepares to advance the regularisation plan amid political opposition from the conservative People's Party (PP).

"Demographic winter"

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the policy on Tuesday and reminded critics that it has the backing of several sectors, including employers' associations and the Catholic Church.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, he said: "What we are doing is recognising the rights of citizens who are already in our country."

Sánchez said the policy is necessary at a time of what he described as a "demographic winter," adding that it is aimed at supporting pensions and economic growth.

"We are doing something that is good for our country, because recognising rights is good and above all because migration is contributing very decisively to economic growth, job creation and also to having Social Security accounts as sound as possible," Sánchez said.

He also recalled that the conservative government of José María Aznar regularised around half a million undocumented migrants in the early 2000s.

PP "absolutely against"

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo insisted on Tuesday that his party is "absolutely against" the migrant regularisation plan.

"It is inhuman, unjust, unsafe and unsustainable," Feijóo said.

Podcast

Around half a million undocumented migrants, including up to 150,000 in Catalonia, are set to benefit from the extraordinary regularisation announced by the Spanish government.

But why now? And how will it actually work? Watch the podcast to find out.

 

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