The SAIER immigration service is finalising an emergency agreement to restore operations. Meanwhile, Barcelona City Council is concluding the deal after a systemic collapse left the body unable to process new immigration consultations for nearly two months.
The service stoppage began in January 2026. Consequently, it has sparked fierce political debate and concern among social entities. Additionally, a central government regularisation programme for foreign nationals is set to begin in less than six weeks.
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SAIER Immigration Service: Stoppage and Emergency Measures
The crisis was addressed this Tuesday at the municipal Social Rights commission. Moreover, Commissioner for Social Action Sonia Fuertes confirmed the council is concluding an emergency agreement with a new entity. This interim contract should run until August, with a possible extension to December.
The disruption stems from the expiration of a long-standing agreement with the Centre for Information for Foreign Workers (CITE). CITE is linked to the CCOO trade union. It had managed legal immigration queries for over 20 years but ceased its involvement on 31 December. A dispute over contract conditions caused the departure.
Consequently, the SAIER immigration service has processed no new consultations in 2026. Therefore, it limited operations strictly to emergency cases and existing follow-ups. The council has not yet named the new managing entity. However, officials state the agreement must first pass the government commission.
A Shift in Management Model
The collapse is largely attributed to the council’s transition from direct annual agreements to a competitive tendering model. Commissioner Fuertes defended this transformation as necessary. However, it led to the departure of three historic partners: ABD, CITE, and AMIC.
These organisations argue that the new tender conditions are economically unviable. Moreover, they say the terms reflect a ‘mercantilist’ approach to social services. For instance, the tender for the ‘front office’ service received no bids. The previous operator, the Association for Welfare and Development (ABD), deemed the financial terms impossible to meet. Similarly, CITE submitted a protest bid with a budget exceeding the council’s limit. Consequently, this action resulted in their disqualification.
Political Backlash and Future Planning
The opposition has severely criticised Mayor Jaume Collboni’s government for the service failure. Therefore, a motion from ERC and Junts demanded immediate reinforcements and a review of the contracting model. Barcelona en Comú and the PP supported the motion. However, only the governing PSC and Vox voted against it.
Carolina Recio of Barcelona en Comú described the situation as ‘unprecedented and worrying’. Moreover, she attributed it to a lack of political leadership. Meanwhile, Junts councillor Joan Rodríguez called the stoppage a ‘cold shower’ for vulnerable residents requiring support.
Looking ahead, the council plans to launch a new public tender in September. This tender will select a permanent operator for the SAIER immigration service. In the interim, officials have promised ‘specific reinforcements’. Additionally, these reinforcements aim to handle the anticipated surge in demand from the upcoming national regularisation process.
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