Undocumented migrants across Catalonia express cautious optimism. Spain’s government has announced an extraordinary regularisation plan that could grant legal status to half a million people. This initiative promises residence and work permits, offering a path out of the shadows for many. However, a new, tougher law on repeat offending creates a complex backdrop for debates on social integration and public safety.
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For thousands living in cities like Barcelona and Tarragona, the plan represents a chance to formalise their lives and contribute fully to society. Merly Arévalo, who is from Colombia and has lived in Barcelona for four years, hopes the process will allow her to find work that matches her qualifications, beyond the precarious fields of caregiving and cleaning. “We want to do our part for society,” she told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).
Many share this sentiment. Rashid, a 39-year-old from Morocco who arrived in Catalonia two years ago, works without a contract in the construction industry. He described the prospect of legal status as a “dream” that would bring him stability and peace of mind. “Regularisation is like a dream, it would allow me to live calmly and have more security,” he said.
A Pathway to Paperwork
The government’s plan, managed by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations, aims to benefit those already living and working in the informal economy. The process covers individuals who can prove they were in Spain before 31 December 2025 and have resided in the country for at least five continuous months. It also includes applicants whose requests for international protection are pending or have been denied.
According to 2026 data from the Funcas Foundation, people from South America make up 70% of those in an irregular situation. Colombia accounts for the largest group, with an estimated 287,955 individuals, followed by Peru with over 107,520.
Eligible adults will receive a one-year residence permit allowing them to work in any sector, while minors will receive a five-year permit. In Barcelona alone, up to 24,000 migrants could benefit from the extraordinary regularisation, providing a significant boost to the local economy and social fabric.
For Rosa, an Ecuadorian who has lived near Tarragona since 2021 with her two children, legal status would be the final step in her integration. “I feel like just another Catalan, I just need a piece of paper to prove it,” she said, adding she is proud of her “Catalan-Latino family.” The Spanish government has also confirmed that language proficiency will not be a barrier, having ruled out a Catalan test for the regularisation process.
A New Law on Repeat Offenders
While these hopes were discussed the same week, the Spanish Congress of Deputies passed a controversial bill to increase penalties for repeat offenders. This move has drawn both praise for tackling crime and criticism for its potential to unfairly target marginalised groups.
The reform primarily targets theft. Stealing items worth less than €400 can now result in a prison sentence of one to three years, instead of a simple fine, if the person has at least three prior convictions for similar offences. The law also specifically toughens penalties for mobile phone theft, a direct response to the long-standing problem of pickpocketing in tourist-heavy areas of Barcelona.
An unusual political alliance pushed through this legislation. Proposed by the pro-independence Catalan party Junts, it gained the support of the governing Socialists (PSOE), the conservative People’s Party (PP), and the far-right Vox party.
A Divided Government
The broad support for the bill highlighted a deep rift within Spain’s coalition government. Sumar, the Socialists’ junior partner, voted against it, warning that the agreement “turns Vox’s political rhetoric into law.” The left-wing party Podemos also criticised the law for targeting “petty thieves” while ignoring major white-collar crime.
The Socialists defended their position, arguing that repeat offending affects Catalonia with “special intensity” and that the reform tackles the issue from a left-wing perspective without resorting to “racist rhetoric.” However, the Catalan pro-independence party ERC abstained, condemning what it called the law’s “racist narrative” while acknowledging the existence of the problem.
As Catalonia prepares for these two significant legal changes, the region stands at a crossroads. One path offers a chance for hundreds of thousands to achieve legal recognition and economic stability. The other introduces a tougher penal system that could have profound consequences for vulnerable populations. How these two initiatives interact will shape the social landscape of Barcelona and beyond for years to come.
