Junts per Catalunya is demanding that the Spanish government transfer full authority over immigration policy to the Generalitat, including powers to decide on migrant regularizations and the allocation of social aid. The party argues that access to housing and other benefits should be restricted to migrants who can prove integration into Catalan society.
This shift in stance follows the recent influx of African migrants to Ceuta, which has reignited national debate over the distribution of unaccompanied minors. Salvador Vergés, a Junts spokesperson, warned the party would oppose any attempt to send more minors to Catalonia, citing overcrowded reception centres. He claimed Catalonia has historically taken in more unaccompanied minors than other regions and that the current burden is unsustainable.
According to Vergés, Junts offers a pragmatic alternative to both the Spanish government’s approach and the hardline anti-immigration rhetoric of the rising party Aliança Catalana. While basic rights such as child healthcare would remain guaranteed, additional social support would be conditional on fulfilling civic duties and demonstrating integration.
Political Backlash and Credibility Challenges
Junts’s new position has drawn criticism from opposition parties and the public. The PSC’s Ferran Pedret compared the party’s rhetoric to the normalization of far-right politics in France. On social media, Vergés’s attempts to reframe Junts as a moderate force were met with widespread scepticism, with many users responding with the phrase "You’re late".
Previously, Junts had dismissed or attacked similar arguments when made by Aliança Catalana. Now, the party is adopting positions once considered taboo, including questioning whether municipalities should be obliged to register migrants without sufficient resources. Critics argue this reflects electoral opportunism rather than conviction.
"You’re late and it’s obvious,"
, comment widely shared on social media following Vergés’s statements.
Integration as a Condition for Support
The party frames its proposal as a balanced approach focused on responsible resource management. It contends that making social benefits a "reward" for integration addresses public concerns without resorting to blanket expulsions or xenophobia. However, the broader debate highlights growing political competition in Catalonia, where Junts faces declining support and pressure from Aliança Catalana’s rising profile.
Spain’s system for distributing unaccompanied minors remains contentious, with Catalonia often receiving a disproportionate share. The current situation, set against a backdrop of low birth rates and demographic challenges, has intensified calls for a revised regional approach to migration and integration.
Reported by russpain.com, Redacción, El Debate, Oduu, Ona Falcó, Carlota Camps.
