The Spanish government has expelled about 21,000 irregular immigrants since 2019, a figure representing less than 7% of those who arrived in the same timeframe.
The Spanish government's efforts to manage irregular immigration have resulted in the expulsion of 20,682 foreign nationals from 2019 to 2025, according to data released by the Ministry of the Interior. This figure accounts for only 6.78% of the 305,371 irregular migrants who entered Spain during this period. The government's performance in executing expulsion orders has reached a historical low, with only 17% of such orders carried out in 2024, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current immigration policies.
Additionally, the data highlights that Spain has only returned 12% of irregular migrants from the past two years. The information was shared with Congress in response to inquiries made by deputy Alberto Catalán from the UPN regarding these expulsions across various provinces. The year 2023 marks the first full year of Pedro Sánchez's administration since he assumed power in June 2018 following a successful vote of no confidence.
This situation points to a growing challenge for the Sánchez government in addressing irregular immigration. The inability to expel a significant percentage of inbound irregular migrants raises questions about the implementation of immigration laws and the effectiveness of governance in managing the situation. As the debate on immigration continues to intensify both in Spain and across Europe, the government will likely face pressure to formulate more stringent policies while balancing humanitarian considerations.
