Catalonia to manage immigration after Junts reach deal with Spanish government

Catalonia is to take control of various immigration powers after an agreement between pro-independence Junts and Spain's governing Socialists.

On Tuesday morning, the two parties jointly presented a proposal for a law that would transfer certain immigration responsibilities from Madrid to the Catalan government.

The new law would grant the Catalan government the authority to manage the deportation of foreigners with entry bans.

Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, will collaborate with Spain's National Police and Civil Guard on border control, and share responsibility for the security of ports, airports, and key cooperation zones.

The Mossos will also take on the role of preventing and prosecuting cases of trafficking and exploitation, as well as protecting and assisting victims.

The plan includes the addition of 1,800 new Catalan police officers to support these additional responsibilities.

"One-stop shop"

Separate statements from the two parties stated that they have agreed the Catalan government will act as the "one-stop shop" for long-term stay authorizations, temporary residence, and the issuing of identity numbers for foreigners (NIE), as well as the management of immigrant detention centres (CIE) in Catalonia and the authority to handle sanctions in administrative matters related to foreigners.

This last point includes ordering and carrying out the return of foreigners where formal proceedings are not required. Deportations that do require formal procedures will be requested by Catalonia and carried out by Spain.

The Socialists-Junts agreement also states that Catalonia will determine the profiles and quotas for workers hired from abroad and that existing language-related measures affecting immigrants will be applied.

In order for the Catalan government to take on these new responsibilities, Junts and the Socialists have agreed that the Spanish government will transfer the "necessary human, technical, and financial resources" to ensure that Catalonia has "its own model" of immigration policy.

"Catalan institutions will have a decisive role within the framework of European international law and Spanish national law," conclude the statements released by the two parties.

Puigdemont: "Everything will go through Catalonia"

Junts leader and former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont celebrated the agreement, saying it will mean that "everything related to a person coming from abroad will go through the Catalan government."

Puigdemont emphasized knowledge of Catalan as an "indispensable element" for integration and obtaining citizenship, without which "there will be no favorable report" regarding an individual's application for citizenship, although he admitted that it would require further legislation.

When asked if trust in the Socialists had improved at all, Puigdemont said "mistrust has reduced."

He warned that the agreement "changes nothing" with regards to possible negotiations over the Spanish budget. The Spanish government meanwhile said it hopes the deal could pave the way for a budget agreement.

In a press conference after registering the bill agreed with the Socialists, Puigdemont celebrated the delegation of powers to help Catalonia deal with the "demographic challenge" and other problems.

"We have the threat of violence and religious radicalization, and also an increase in xenophobic or directly racist views," he warned. 

"This requires changes in how we manage [immigration] in order to ensure social and economic progress, cohesion, and coexistence."

President welcomes deal

Catalonia's Socialist president, Salvador Illa, was positive about the deal, saying that "any advancement in powers and improvement of self-government is always welcome."

The conservative People's Party (PP) and far-right Vox registered a request for the president to appear in parliament to explain how he will manage the delegation of powers set out in the agreement.

The PP's Juan Fernández, labeled the transfer "illegal" while Vox's Joan Garriga criticized it as "an attack on the security" of Catalonia.

On the other hand, Catalunya en Comú said it was "very good news" that a one-stop shop could help to reduce excessive red tape that make the lives of migrants worse.

Pro-independence parties divided

Pro-independence parties were divided on the proposal. Left-wing Esquerra Republicana (ERC) said it was "good news."

"The smaller the presence of the [Spanish] state, the better," Isaac Albert told Ser Catalunya radio station.

Far-left CUP accused Junts of being "the same as [far-right] Aliança Catalana." 'If they ask for immigration powers, it's because they have adopted the framework imposed by the far right," said MP Dani Cornellà.

Aliança Catalana criticized the deal, saying: "We don't want crumbs, we want full powers to legislate on immigration." 

Catalan government working group

The Catalan government will create a working group to address "with full guarantees" the delegation of immigration powers agreed between the Spanish Socialists and Junts.

Government spokesperson, Sílvia Paneque, explained at the post-cabinet weekly press conference on Tuesday that it was a task assigned by President Illa.

The working group will be led by the Department of Social Rights and will also include the interior and presidency departments.

Paneque celebrated the delegation of immigration management from Spain to Catalonia and stated that all new powers for Catalonia are "welcome."

She said they will be exercised "with rigor, responsibility, and institutional loyalty," highlighting Catalonia's "years of experience" in security matters.

Paneque denied that the agreement indicated an imminent meeting between Catalonia's current Socialist president, Salvador Illa, and former president, Junts leader Carles Puigdemont, who has been living in Belgium since the 2017 independence push.

What happens next?

The agreed legal text now has to go through the Spanish Congress. As it is what is known in Spain as an organic law, it will require an absolute majority to be approved.

This means that all the parties that accommodated the re-election of Pedro Sánchez as PM will need to vote in favor, unless a highly unexpected alternative majority emerges.