Immigration and Immigration Policies in Spain

Abstract

A question that often emerges in migration studies is why, even with rising levels of migration, Spain has seen low levels of ethnic conflict. Research offers several explanations for this phenomenon, but a large factor is that many of the immigrants are Latin American and are seen as having a shared cultural background with Spaniards. However, the chapter finds that the demographic composition of immigrants to Spain is not the product of chance, but rather reflects a calculated set of policies put in place that favor (either implicitly or explicitly) immigrants from Latin America. These policies are progressive in comparison with other OECD countries, tolerant of undocumented migrations, biased in favor of Latin Americans, and shaped by the EU’s progressive immigration policies. Starting by tracing the demographic profile of immigrants, this chapter then discusses the current state of immigration policy in Spain and how policy was used to create a specific demographic mix of immigrants. Finally, the author argues that due to the current economic crisis, Spain is moving towards more restrictive policies.