Spanish immigration services prepare for strike over mass amnesty for undocumented migrants

Reuters

A conflict is escalating in Spain over a large-scale amnesty for foreigners living in the country without legal status. Immigration office staff are threatening to go on strike due to a shortage of resources to process applications, Reuters reports.

Immigration amnesty in Spain as part of an economic strategy

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government approved a mass regularization program for migrants at a cabinet meeting on April 14. The initiative is seen as a key pillar of policy aimed at supporting the economy amid an aging population.

Authorities expect that legalizing workers will help offset demographic imbalances and sustain public services. In an address to citizens, Sánchez stressed that this is not only a matter of social justice, but also an economic necessity: without a growing workforce, economic development slows and pressure on public services increases.

System overload and risk of paralysis

Online applications will open on April 16, while in-person appointments will begin on April 20. On April 21, immigration staff plan to start a strike, warning that the system is unprepared for a surge of up to half a million applications.

Trade unions say the state has failed to allocate sufficient funding and staffing to implement the program. Immigration workers’ union leader César Pérez noted that authorities are once again launching a large-scale regularization without the necessary resources.

Additional pressure comes from the processing model itself: out of 54 immigration offices, only five will handle applications directly. The remaining workload will be distributed among social security offices, postal services, and non-governmental organizations. The largest trade union federation, CCOO, warns that these measures will only partially ease the burden on an already overstretched system.

The opposition People’s Party sharply criticized the initiative, calling it reckless. Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso said she intends to challenge the government’s decision in court.

Scale of migration and economic context

Spain is undergoing a significant demographic shift. The country’s population is approaching 50 million, with more than 10 million residents born abroad — around 20%. According to the Funcas think tank, there are about 840,000 migrants without legal status in Spain, many of whom are already integrated into the economy. A significant share entered legally but remained after their visas expired.

Foreigners already play a key role in the labor market, accounting for around 21% of all employed people, particularly in sectors facing chronic labor shortages such as construction, agriculture, tourism, and care services.

In this context, authorities view migration as an economic resource: foreign workers support employment levels, tax revenues, and the social security system, which is under pressure from population aging. At the same time, Spain is moving against the broader European trend, where migration policies are becoming increasingly restrictive.

Social tensions and economic risks in Spain

Analysts at International Investment note that the large-scale regularization is taking place amid existing public tensions. Illegal migration has long been a contentious issue among parts of the population, as well as a concern for investors, particularly in the real estate sector.

One of the most sensitive issues remains so-called “okupas” — cases of illegal occupation of residential property. Eviction procedures in Spain can take months or even years, increasing concerns among property owners and affecting the country’s investment appeal. Against this backdrop, any measures expanding migrants’ rights are perceived by some segments of society as an additional risk.

Another factor is the labor market. Spain continues to face relatively high unemployment, which increases sensitivity to migration policy. At the same time, the structural issue lies in a mismatch: many local job seekers lack the required skills or are unwilling to take jobs in low-paid and physically demanding sectors. These gaps are largely filled by migrants, particularly in agriculture, construction, and services.

As a result, a dual effect emerges. On the one hand, the economy is heavily dependent on foreign labor. On the other, social and political risks are increasing, driven by competition for resources, access to housing, and perceptions of fairness in the system.