The scheme by Spanish Socialist Prime Minsiter Pedro Sánchez to offer amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants is sparking questions over the stability of the European Union’s internal open borders system.
This month, the leftist coalition government in Madrid began its so-called regularisation programme, which will see at least 500,000 up to over a million illegal migrants be granted legal residence permits, provided that they meet the criteria of not having a criminal record and having been in the country since the start of the year.
While the plan, which far-left allies of Prime Minsiter Sánchez have admitted is designed to disenfranchise native conservative voters, has drawn backlash from within Spain, it has also become controversial in fellow European Union member states.
Concerns have been raised that illegal migrants living in other EU countries may travel to Spain to regularise their immigration status, which would effectively stymie local
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