The lack of a clear migration policy and border control, coupled with a discourse that encourages a “pull effect,” have been identified as causes of the current situation. The burden of managing the consequences of this policy, according to critics, falls on regional governments and local councils, which must address the situation with their own resources.
Extraordinary regularizations, conceived as specific mechanisms for irregular administrative situations, require special care in their application. However, the incorporation of vulnerability certificates as a tool to justify rootedness has generated controversy. It is argued that social rootedness is fundamental to combat opportunistic mafias and to accredit citizens' real ties to their municipality, something not solely demonstrated by a registration certificate.
“"When we see long queues at city councils, what becomes visible is something deeper: Social Services need time to do their job well, to demonstrate those ties, something that is not proven with a registration certificate."
Social Services, which operate with empathy and proximity, are overwhelmed by the need to demand complex reports within tight deadlines. This leads to delays, frustration, and a feeling of abandonment that benefits no one. The mass regularization, it is stated, lacks the necessary control mechanisms and violates European principles on migration, contravening the objectives set in the European Pact on Migration and Asylum.
It has been criticized that any modification in immigration matters should have been processed as a bill or legislative proposal in the Congress of Deputies, ensuring parliamentary debate and legal certainty. The massive concentration of applications at the local level is creating organizational tensions, waiting lists, and difficulties in providing a swift response, thereby jeopardizing legal certainty and service quality.
Many people arriving in the country seek legal certainty, transparency, and dignified treatment. When regularization procedures are managed with improvisation or demagoguery, it not only harms those who need to regularize their situation but also creates false expectations, strains public services, and erodes trust in the administration. Effective migration management requires planning, coordination among administrations, and a real commitment to civil rights.
