Spain’s immigration regularisation drive shapes Arguineguin’s current status as a focal point in debates on legal status for migrants.
The Pope has urged leaders to show compassion toward migrants and refugees, stressing that dignity has no passport. He cites the Canary Islands and Arguineguin as symbols of a global conscience, calling for legal routes, cooperation against trafficking, and rescue funding. The remarks come as Europe tightens migration controls amid ongoing deaths at sea.
The pope has urged world leaders to welcome migrants and crack down on traffickers during a week-long Spain tour, concluding in the Canary Islands. He emphasizes dignity for all migrants, warns smugglers, and asks for greater integration and support as thousands seek safety in Europe.
Spain has launched a large-scale regularisation program, offering a one-year, renewable residence permit to undocumented migrants who have spent at least five months in the country and have a clean criminal record. The measure aims to strengthen the economy and uphold human rights as Spain faces an aging population. Applications have surpassed expectations, with hundreds of thousands to nearly a million people applying by mid-June.