Nariola Romo, 34, immigrated from Colombia to Spain with her family. Their original plan was to move to the United States, but securing two necessary loans proved impossible. Instead, they found new beginnings in Europe. Romo reflects on the situation optimistically, believing their current path was meant to be, stating, “Look at how things are in the United States with migrants… we would have been deported already.” Her family, seated in the Barcelona metro, includes her husband Ángel, their children Angelito and Claribel, and her father Will.
Spain is currently processing a significant regularization for undocumented immigrants, expecting to impact over 500,000 people. Successful applicants gain a one-year work and residence permit for adults, while minors receive a five-year status. The process is distinct from the approach in the U.S., where past campaigns have aimed to detain and deport undocumented immigrants.
Spain’s application deadline for this process is June 30. It was announced by the Spanish government in January, quickly drawing 43,000 applications in its initial days, with numbers surging to 549,596 within a month. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez views this as an act of “normalization,” highlighting that immigrants are integral to Spanish daily life.
Nariola Romo and her family eagerly await the opportunity, having applied after learning about the regularization through social media. Despite previous denial of asylum, which left them in uncertainty, they remain hopeful.
Their journey from Barranquilla started in 2024, driven by threats and extortion from gangs. Romo once ran several businesses in Colombia but embraced new roles in Spain, working in a warehouse and offering tutoring. She remarks on the courage required to leave everything behind.
For Senegalese immigrant Diadji Nguirane, Spain offers different challenges. Both he and his partner, Maimouna Gueye, have three daughters born in the country, though the regularization will only address his undocumented status. His partner, Gueye, legally works at a hospital in Terrassa, supporting the family financially. Nguirane awaits the permit to work legally and contribute to family support.
Spain’s current move is the second major regularization effort in 20 years. Applicants must meet specific criteria: proving presence in Spain before January 1, 2026, and demonstrating a clean criminal record, among others.
Legal expert Verónica Jaramillo notes regularization is a common global practice, as seen in Spain’s past efforts 20 years ago under the Zapatero administration. It addresses the undocumented immigrant population, with estimates ranging from 500,000 to over 800,000.
Beyond helping immigrants, regularization benefits aging economies like Spain, which faces a growing elderly demographic. Jaramillo argues that integrating immigrants into the workforce and Social Security systems is essential.
However, the plan has sparked opposition, particularly from right-wing parties. Some criticize it as a tactic to alter the population census or pressure public services. Madrid region president Isabel Díaz Ayuso claims it attempts cultural transformation and election manipulation. Yet, immigrants legalized by the process won’t gain voting rights.
The Romo and Nguirane families hope for the best as Spain’s regularization process aims to provide them with stability in a country where they wish to lay down roots.