In an unprecedented move, more than 1.2 million undocumented migrants in Spain have applied for legal status under a government initiative aimed at regularizing the immigration status of foreign residents. Launched by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist administration in April amidst European border hardening measures, the scheme closed on June 30, with over 600,000 applications already being processed. Latin Americans dominate the applicant pool, accounting for 67% of submissions, particularly those from Colombia (25.9%). The remaining applicants are predominantly from African and South American countries. This initiative, which requires a clean criminal record and proof of five months' residency in Spain prior to January 1, is expected to benefit sectors like construction that rely on labor force expansion. Prime Minister Sanchez argues that immigration is vital for Spain's economic growth, stating that without it, the country would lose approximately 19% of its GDP by 2050, leading to the closure of thousands of businesses and schools, as well as the disappearance of around 220,000 farms. However, the conservative and far-right opposition argue that this policy will encourage irregular immigration, with Vox party leader Santiago Abascal labeling it an "invasion."