Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has unleashed a tidal wave of applicants to become legal residents in Spain, enabling them to live, work, and collect benefits in Spain. Some estimates have indicated that more than 1.3 million currently illegal migrants could try to collect on the offer. Whatever the final number, the lines of applicants seen in viral videos online are confirming the number is sure to be huge.

🇪🇸🚨With up to 800,000 migrants set to be legalized in Spain, massive crowds have gathered outside the Moroccan Consulate in Almería.

The Moroccan Government says it will streamline documentation so that its citizens can quickly become regularized.pic.twitter.com/GK4Q62yVVs

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) April 16, 2026

Sánchez framed the move as both a moral duty and an economic necessity, describing it as “an act of justice” and a recognition of “the reality of nearly half a million people” already living in Spain. He insisted the policy would “recognize rights, but also demand obligations,” arguing that bringing those in the country illegally into the system would strengthen social cohesion and economic contribution.

Spain: Socialist Sánchez presses on with mass amnesty for illegal migrants by decree, describing move as ‘act of justice’

However, some politicians are fighting back. Santiago Abascal, president of the right-wing, anti-migration VOX party, blasted the decision last week: “The Spanish people have not given permission for this. If the illegals ‘already form part of our daily life,’ it is only because you and the [center-right] PP have let them in against our laws and against our interests.”

Vox also announced last week it would appeal the passing of the royal decree to the Supreme Court, and effectively ask for an injunction on its implementation while the judicial review is being conducted.

Meanwhile, the videos continue to pour in.

🇪🇸🔴Footage from Spain's Zaragoza as thousands of migrants rush to be legalized.

The VOX party: "Total collapse of the City Council in the face of the avalanche of illegal immigrants who want to take advantage of Sánchez's regularization."pic.twitter.com/OISJ1gsyXs

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) April 20, 2026

On Tuesday, Abascal posted to X: “Millions of Spaniards are horrified by the images they are seeing these days in many consulates and public establishments. Their unease is logical and legitimate, and we stand with them.”

“To all of them, we say that if they give us sufficient strength, we are going to reverse this. And we are going to make the responsible parties pay. From the first to the last. Spain will not be dissolved by a traitorous government.”

In neighboring France, some politicians are sounding the alarm as well, as once legal in Spain, these new residents can then freely travel throughout the Schengen Area. National Rally’s Jordan Bardella is now saying that only citizens of EU countries should benefit from this free movement provision.

Spain mass amnesty has French nationalists calling for an end to free movement of non-EU nationals as fears of migration wave grow

“Obtaining a residence permit in Spain should not give you the right to travel to any country in the EU,” Bardella wrote.