Spain's migrant amnesty program signals economic pragmatism.

Spain's migrant amnesty program signals economic pragmatism. The government plans to legalize at least half a million undocumented migrants through a renewable one-year residency visa starting April. The initiative addresses labor market needs as Spain's unemployment hits an 18-year low and the economy grows at nearly three percent annually, matching combined growth of UK, Germany, France, and Italy. Officials argue legalization will expand the tax base, boost consumer spending, and enable migrant entrepreneurship. Current undocumented workers face wage suppression and exploitation, limiting economic participation. Estimates suggest between 750,000 and 1.1 million migrants could apply, substantially larger than government projections.