B2 – Upper Intermediate
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has defended his government’s plan to regularise around 500,000 undocumented migrants, calling it a pragmatic and humane response to Spain’s social and economic realities. The proposal would grant legal status and work permits to migrants already living in the country, with Sánchez arguing it will help address labour shortages and promote integration.
The plan has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of electoral opportunism and warning of pressure on public services. Sánchez, however, insists the measure is lawful, necessary, and reflects Spain’s commitment to a more inclusive migration policy, even as much of Europe moves in the opposite direction.
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Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to go against the current” mean? “Some say we’ve gone too far, that we’re going against the current.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “to be woven into the fabric of” mean? “Sánchez said the plans would offer an orderly path to residence for those whose lives were already woven into Spain’s social fabric.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “to strike a deal” mean? “The initiative had languished for months until the leftwing Podemos party said last week that it had struck a deal with the Socialists to approve the plans in exchange for parliamentary support.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What reasons does Pedro Sánchez give for regularizing undocumented migrants and asylum seekers?
- Do you think regularizing undocumented migrants strengthens or weakens a country’s social cohesion? Why?
- How convincing is the criticism that migration regularization is a form of “electoral engineering”? Share your insights.
- Is there a moral obligation for states to regularize people who have already built lives within their borders? Why?