The Spanish parliament approved a “self-deportation” program for unemployed immigrants. The program- which had been proposed in July- would permit jobless immigrants to receive unemployment benefits and other incentives so as long as they agree to stay out of Spain for three years. Spain’s government claims that it is a necessary measure as a result of rising unemployment rates which Labor and Immigration Minister Celestino Corbacho controversially claimed is linked to increased immigration. Yet politicos on both the left and right have blasted the plan:
The decree which was approved two weeks ago by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was backed by Congress except for two political parties: the conservative Popular party (PP) and the pro-communist alliance United Left (IU).
PP deputy Rafael Hernando said that the measure does not resolve “any problems like the massive influx of immigrants.”
For his part, IU leader Gaspar Llamazares doubted the effectiveness of the plan which he called “symbolic legislation” and a “populist measure.” - [ed. personal translation]
The “self-deportation” program comes about as the center-left Zapatero administration has proposed several harsh measures designed to control immigration. Corbacho announced yesterday plans to substantially cut the number of family reunion visas as well as halting all visas to low-skilled workers.
An estimated 3 million immigrants have entered Spain over the past decade mostly from Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, and South America.
Image- BBC News (Ecuadorian immigrants protested the tightening of Spanish immigration laws in 2001)
Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, earthtimes.org, Reuters Africa, Typically Spanish
Sources (Spanish)- Milenio
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