Photo: euronews.com
More than 130,000 undocumented migrants have already applied for the emergency regularization process in the first week since it began, states Euronews.
The procedure proposed by Pedro Sanchez’s cabinet is intended for those who can prove permanent residence in the country until 2026 and also meet requirements such as not having a criminal record.
The start of the legalization process has been marked by overlaps
The procedure will be open until the end of June and can be done online or in person. However, the start of the process has been marked by administrative overlaps. Huge queues, problems with making appointments and delays in obtaining the necessary documents have been reported in various cities, causing anxiety among applicants.
Social organizations and agencies working with immigrants warn that additional resources are needed to ensure that the system is not over-saturated and access to regularization is not restricted. They also call for greater clarity in some requirements and procedures, especially for the most complex cases.
Tensions in medicine and social security
Meanwhile, a number of regional administrations have expressed doubts about how the measure could affect public services, at a time when the country is facing tensions in areas such as health and social services.
The government defends the initiative as a key tool to promote integration and fight the shadow economy, allowing thousands of workers to pay contributions and access labor rights.
The program could potentially affect some 500,000 people already in the country without documentation.
