PROPERTY SEARCH
PROPERTY SEARCH
ARCHIVED - US and Spain to strike historic refugee deal
The Biden administration expects Spain to accept more irregular immigrants
The Biden administration is hoping to secure a commitment from Spain to resettle more refugees from the Western Hemisphere in what would be a landmark deal, the full details of which are expected to be announced at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles next week.
The US government is also in separate talks with Canada in an effort to alleviate the pressure of the huge numbers of asylum seekers at the southern border. Internal sources claim that planning documents show that Canada is considering allowing more Haitian migrants into the country for work, while Spain has so far remained tight-lipped on its part in the deal.
However, Spain is currently suffering a labour shortage, particularly in the hospitality sector, and although early indications are that the number of refugees granted asylum will be “modest”, the move will be “symbolically important” and will serve to strengthen ties between the US and Spain.
In addition, following the first ever meeting of the Spain-US Working group on Central America held in Madrid last week, the Spanish government is expected to double or triple the number of temporary workers it accepts through its employment migration scheme.
Although Spain no longer has colonial rule over the Americas, the government is a strong advocate for Latin American rights and almost 626,000 people born in Central America or the Caribbean now call Spain home.
"Spain first became a major destination for immigrants in the late 1990s and 2000s as its economy grew, including from Central and South America," the Migration Policy Institute's Kate Hooper explained, adding that although there are now several travel restrictions in place, Spain "remains a popular destination for Spanish-speaking countries."
Also of interest: 1 in 5 migrant deaths occur en route to the Canary Islands
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268
