The number of applications—1.3 million—far exceeds the figures managed by the Government (half a million people) when the process began last April 16. This raises even more reservations among European Union member states and within the Supreme Court, which is considering whether to submit a query to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) regarding how this process aligns with current EU regulations. If the High Court decides to do so, raising this question could freeze the regularization process while the doubts are being resolved.
However, the Executive is confident this will not happen and has set the machinery in motion so that individuals who have applied to regularize their administrative status receive a provisional residence and work permit in Spain prior to the final resolution—whether favorable or not—of their file. This step is not new and was already included in the text of the Royal Decree; it would prevent the process from stalling for applicants who have obtained said authorization in the event that the Supreme Court pauses the procedure.
Over the past two months, police unions have reported that the Government’s forecasts did not match reality and that there was an influx of people arriving in search of regularization—a flow that some sources estimate at close to 400,000 people.
