Spain's government has announced it will grant legal status to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants living and working in the country without authorization

Spain announces plans to grant legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants over three years, taking opposite approach from Trump's border crackdown.

The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a Socialist, described the measure as critical to Spain’s economic future. Migrant labor plays a large part in the country’s economy. Spain’s minister for migration said it would have an impact “on our social cohesion, well-being, and also on the economy.”

The permits will apply to those who arrived in Spain before Dec. 31, 2025, and who can prove they have lived in Spain for at least five months. They must also prove they have no criminal record.

Spain's government announced Tuesday it will grant legal status to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants living and working in the country without authorization.