Spaniards admit migration is 'real threat' as hordes of arrivals storm embassies for 'legal status' paperwork

EU migrant FLOOD hits RECORD BREAKING levels as migrants now rush to Spain regularisation scheme

|

GB NEWS

Peter Stevens

By Peter Stevens, 


Published: 30/04/2026

- 05:56

Some 72 per cent of young Spaniards have demanded migrants assimilate to Spanish customs and norms

Spain's youth has admitted migration is a "real threat" - just as crowds of migrants climbed stormed embassies and climbed over walls in a rush for their "legal status" paperwork under a controversial amnesty.

The study, titled Jovenes Espanoles 2026, was published by Spanish non-profit Fundacion SM.


Surveying young Spaniards between the age of 15-24, the study found skyrocketing fears that migration posed "real threats".

More than six in 10 respondents said the presence of migrants had resulted in a growth of delinquency, and 65.6 per cent agreed that there are "starting to be too many migrants in Spain".

And 58.9 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement: "We make things too easy for migrants."

This was an increase from 30.4 per cent in agreement when the survey was last conducted in 2020.

There was also a significant rise in support for migrants to assimilate to Spanish customs and norms, with 72 per cent of respondents agreeing with the sentiment.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez issued a royal decree earlier this year which granted over 500,000 migrants legal status.

MigrantsMigrants were seen trying to climb the wall of the Gambian embassy in Spain on Tuesday | X

The decree, approved on April 14, has resulted in migrants attempting to scale embassy walls, waiting in line for hours, and staying overnight to get their documentation officially stamped.

The move resulted in criticism from right-wing party Vox, with spokesman Pepa Millan warning the plan "attacks our identity".

Also slamming the decision was SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who said on social media: "Dirty Sanchez is guilty of high treason."

Responding to his critics, the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Mr Sanchez said: "Spain is the daughter of migration and will not become the mother of xenophobia."

A long queue of migrants outside the Spanish Commission For Refugee Aid building

Migrants have waited in line four hours after the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party's royal decree took effect

|

GETTY

The survey did, however, find a drop in support for the belief that migrants "take away" jobs from Spanish youth, dropping to 43 per cent of respondents from 78 per cent in 2005.

The study also revealed that 51 per cent of respondents agreed with the belief migration is "economically necessary".

Researchers said the figures "reflect a normalisation of the migrant population’s presence in the workforce".

Political ideology was the main factor for support of migration, followed by education level and social class.

Pedro Sanchez

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, responding to critics, said: 'Spain is the daughter of migration'

|

GETTY

It found higher support for inclusive views and integration among women, young people with higher levels of education, and people who identified as being left-wing.

The study found a 12 per cent reduction in young Spaniards who identified as being on the left, and a 14 per cent growth in Spaniards who identified as being on the right, particularly in young male Catholic Spaniards.

The decision to grant legal status to the migrants has seen support from the Catholic Church, with applications for the scheme accepted until June 30 - the day Pope Leo XIV will begin a week-long visit to Spain.

The formal reason for the Pontiff's visit is to inaugurate the new tower of Sagrada Familia, but it is expected he will dwell on the plight of immigrants during his tour.