Junts per Catalunya calls for full migration powers for Catalonia. The party wants the Generalitat to decide on regularizations and restrict social aid for migrants who cannot prove integration. The move follows the Ceuta migrant crisis.
Junts per Catalunya has intensified its stance on migration policy, urging the Spanish government to transfer full control over immigration to Catalonia. The party is pressing for the Generalitat to have authority not only over regularization processes but also over the allocation of certain social benefits, proposing that these be limited to migrants who can demonstrate integration into Catalan society.
This renewed push comes in the wake of the recent influx of African migrants to Ceuta, which has reignited debates over the distribution of unaccompanied minors across Spain. Junts spokesperson Salvador Vergés has warned that the party will oppose any move to send more unaccompanied minors to Catalonia, citing overcrowded reception centers and arguing that other autonomous communities should now take responsibility for new arrivals from Ceuta. According to Vergés, Catalonia has historically received more minors than other regions, and the current situation is unsustainable.
While the Generalitat’s Department of Social Rights has expressed willingness to cooperate with the central government on the issue, Junts is seeking to distinguish its position from both the Spanish government and the rising far-right party Aliança Catalana. The latter has gained traction with a hardline anti-immigration message, which Junts claims is based on populism and lacks realistic solutions. Vergés argues that Junts offers a more pragmatic approach, focusing on integration and the responsible management of resources rather than blanket expulsions or inflammatory rhetoric.
Junts’ proposal includes making access to housing and other social benefits conditional on proof of integration, which the party frames as a reward for fulfilling civic duties. Basic rights, such as healthcare for children, would remain guaranteed, but additional support would be reserved for those who actively participate in Catalan society. This approach, according to Junts, is intended to address public concerns about migration and social cohesion without resorting to the exclusionary policies advocated by the far right.
The party’s position has drawn criticism from the PSC, with deputy Ferran Pedret comparing Junts’ rhetoric to the normalization of far-right ideas in French politics. The debate highlights growing political competition in Catalonia, where Junts faces declining electoral prospects and pressure from Aliança Catalana’s rise.
Spain’s system for distributing unaccompanied minors has long been a point of contention among autonomous communities, with Catalonia often receiving a disproportionate share. The recent events in Ceuta have brought these tensions to the forefront, as regions negotiate their roles in managing migration flows. The broader context includes demographic challenges, such as low birth rates in Catalonia, which some argue make integration policies even more critical for the region’s future stability.
