BARCELONA, Spain, Jan 28, (AP): 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, the latest way the country has bucked a trend toward increasingly harsh immigration policies imposed in the United States and much of Europe.

The extraordinary measure will be implemented by expediting a decree to amend immigration laws, according to Spanish Minister of Migration Elma Saiz, bypassing a similar bill that has stalled in parliament. Eligible immigrants will be granted up to one year of legal residency as well as permission to work.

In contrast to other nations that have moved to restrict immigration and asylum, many emboldened by the Trump administration’s policies, Spain has moved in the opposite direction with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his ministers often extolling the benefits of legal migration to the country's economy and aging workforce.

Spain "will not look the other way,” Saiz told journalists during a press conference. The government is "dignifying and recognizing people who are already in our country," she said. The measure could benefit an estimated 500,000 people living in Spain without authorization, Saiz said. Other organizations have estimated up to 800,000 people live in the shadows of Spanish society.

Many are immigrants from Latin American or African countries working in the agricultural, tourism or service sectors, backbones of Spain's booming economy. Foreigners who arrived in Spain before Dec. 31, 2025 and can prove they have been living in the country for at least five months will be eligible. They must also prove they have no criminal record.

Saiz said she expects those eligible will be able to start applying for their legal status from April until the end of June. She added that resources would be in place to process them smoothly and efficiently after a union representing Spain’s national police officers, responsible for processing applications, warned of a possible collapse.