Overview
- The government this week approved an extraordinary decree to regularize undocumented migrants, with reports estimating roughly 500,000 people could qualify under residency and clean-record criteria.
- Luis Argüello, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, welcomed the move as recognizing migrants’ dignity and enabling their contribution to the common good, a position shared by Cáritas and allied Catholic groups.
- Archbishop Jesús Sanz of Oviedo publicly questioned how many newcomers Spain can absorb, urged “sensible” limits, and posted his criticism on X in response to the decree.
- Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante accused the government of using immigrants as a bargaining chip and faulted the process, linking it to a recently rejected omnibus decree on pensions.
- Right-wing leaders, including Vox figures, condemned the bishops’ support for regularization, and Sanz’s prior controversies have intensified scrutiny of his dissent.