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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Suman Naishadham

Migrants rush to apply under Spain’s new mass legalization program

APTOPIX Spain Migrations Amnesty - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Migrants in Spain began applying to legalize their status on Monday after the Southern European nation launched a mass legalization measure that could affect hundreds of thousands of foreigners living and working there without authorization.

Spain’s approach sharply differs from prevailing attitudes elsewhere in Europe, where many governments have been trying to curb arrivals and step up deportations. The Spain's government defends the measure as an economic one with the support of business owners and unions.

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