Pedro Sánchez warns migrant deportations are Spanish government's responsibility

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has spoken out on the transfer of immigration powers to Catalonia, stressing that the deportation of migrants is the exclusive responsibility of the Spanish government. 

"Issues related to the removal of migrants are the Spanish government's responsibility (...) This is not just my opinion; it is written in the Constitution, in the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia and in the Pact on Migration and Asylum that we signed two months ago," he said in an interview with El País newspaper. 

Sánchez made his first comments on the controversial issue after reaching an agreement with Junts on Wednesday to transfer immigration powers to Catalonia in exchange for Junts abstaining in three votes in Congress.  

Jordi Turull, secretary general of Junts, said on Thursday that Catalonia must have the right to decide whether or not to deport convicted migrants who re-offend, a proposal that drew strong criticism from most parties.

Sánchez plans post-amnesty meetings 

The Spanish prime minister also announced his intention to meet with former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and former Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras once the amnesty law is approved.

"If we want to normalize the situation in Catalonia, after the pardoning of pro-independence leaders and the passing of an amnesty law, it is natural that we meet and talk," he said.

Sánchez emphasized that "it is impossible to rule Spain without recognizing its political plurality and territorial diversity." 

"We are doing something very important for coexistence: pro-independence parties that until recently refused to back any candidate for prime minister or even to participate in the country's governance are now doing so," he added.