Spain is moving towards the regularization of more than 500,000 immigrants.

In an important legislative advance, Spain is one step away from regularizing over 500,000 immigrants in an irregular situation thanks to the Popular Legislative Initiative (ILP) presented in Congress.

This proposal, which has the support of over 700,000 signatures and organizations such as Cáritas and Regularización Ya, has been unblocked following an agreement between the PSOE and Sumar.

The main purpose of the ILP is to grant residence and work permits to immigrants who arrived in Spain before December 31, 2023, facilitating their integration into society and the labor market, explained the media El Diario.

Proponents of the measure emphasize that regularization will not only benefit migrants but will also contribute to the national economy by reducing the underground economy.

Despite the majority support in Congress, the initiative faces challenges, especially due to amendments proposed by parties such as the PP and Junts. Last week, the Congress Table unlocked the ILP, which had been stalled since its acceptance in the Plenary in April, due to the extended deadlines for the submission of amendments.

This measure is crucial to address the vulnerability of hundreds of thousands of migrants who, despite contributing significantly to essential sectors such as agriculture and caregiving, remain in irregular status. Regularization aims not only to rectify a historical injustice but also to formally integrate these individuals into the economic and social life of the country, their advocates said.

However, concerns persist about the possibility that the measure could become diluted in the legislative process. Regularization must be a firm commitment to the inclusion and rights of migrants, not a political tool with conditions that perpetuate precariousness.

With the processing of a new regulation of the Immigration Law underway, it is essential that the PSOE maintains the essence of the ILP and avoids cuts that limit regularization. Social groups insist that the demand must continue, as it cannot be justified that thousands of people continue to live in uncertainty.

History shows that the countries that prosper are those that choose inclusion over rejection. The approval of this measure represents a significant step towards defending the rights of migrants in Spain, and will benefit migrants, for example from Cuba, who have been in an irregular situation in the Iberian country for years.