Spain surpasses 1 million residency applications as UK prepares asylum system overhaul
Spain has received more than 1 million applications from irregular migrants seeking legal residency and work permits under a government regularization program, officials said.
The scheme, launched on April 15 and ending Tuesday, was initially expected to attract around 500,000 applications, but government officials now describe the process as a success. Final figures are expected this week, with some reports suggesting the total may reach 1.2 million.
Under the emergency decree, eligible migrants must meet conditions including continuous residence in Spain, a clean criminal record, and no threat to public order.
The policy has drawn criticism from opposition and right-wing groups, while the government defends it as a necessary regularization measure.
UK plans major changes to asylum appeal system
In the United Kingdom, the government is preparing legislation that would overhaul the asylum appeals process, including the creation of an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA).
The proposed system would allow trained members of the public, alongside professionals, to take part in deciding asylum appeals, with the aim of speeding up decisions and increasing deportations of failed claimants and foreign offenders.
The reforms also include fast-track procedures for cases deemed without merit or involving serious offenders, as well as tighter interpretation of human rights protections.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is pushing the changes forward as part of broader immigration reforms aimed at processing cases more quickly and increasing removals.
Source:AA
