The Spanish Government said it was set to give illegal immigrants affected by the floods in Valencia legal status.
The Ministry of Migration said it would grant a one-year work permit to about 25,000 illegal migrants affected by deadly floods in October 2024.
The ministry said it would also facilitate the extension of stays of migrants who worked or lived in the devastated zone.
According to the Spanish newspaper El Pais on February 12, the decision to facilitate the work permit process would benefit around 98,000 non-EU foreigners registered in the affected area.
“The main goal is to protect foreigners in situations of maximum vulnerability and prevent them from finding themselves in an illegal situation,” said the migration minister Elma Saiz.
Foreigners whose family members died in the floods would be given five-year residency and those who were living legally in the affected area could request that their residency permits be automatically renewed.
Spanish media reported that the measure was initially stalled due to concerns by the interior ministry. It was supposed to have been approved by the end of 2024. It was only unblocked following pressure from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during his visit to Valencia amid demands from union workers.
The overall move was part of the Spanish Government’s recovery response to the flood disaster.
Data from the European Employment Services showed that Valencia was the third-placed autonomous community in Spain for foreign inhabitants, with 784,469 or 15.39 per cent of the total population.
They were primarily from Europe, notably Romania, the UK, Italy and Bulgaria. Foreigners from non-EU countries originated mainly from Morocco, Colombia, China and Algeria.
General Francisco José Gan Pampols, who led the recovery process in Valencia following the floods, welcomed the measure: “If these people can carry out any of the many jobs that need doing in the region, they are more than welcome.”
Spain has been largely receptive to migrants. The country has said it planned to give legal status to about 300,000 undocumented immigrants over the next three years to expand its labour force in the face of an ageing population.
The Spanish Government has announced the country is set to legalise 300,000 undocumented migrants per year through 2027 under new regulations. https://t.co/S6UsFe4eRM
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 21, 2024
