Bill would transfer state immigration powers to Catalonia

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill, introduced by the Socialist and Junts per Catalunya groups, would delegate to the Generalitat de Catalunya the processing of long-term stay authorizations for foreigners coming to do academic activity in Catalonia, including renewals and appeals.
2. It would also delegate the processing of temporary residence and long-term residence authorizations for foreigners who live or plan to live and work in Catalonia, including renewals, terminations and appeals.
3. On labor matters, Catalonia would set priority occupations and collect requests from employers and unions for hiring people in their countries of origin. The Government would inform Catalonia about international agreements affecting these powers.
4. The bill would delegate to Catalonia the enforcement of immigration penalty proceedings, the full management of Foreigner Internment Centers, and the issuance of ID cards for foreigners authorized by the region.
5. On security, the Mossos d'Esquadra police force would take on police duties in ports and airports, border control for access to the Schengen area, and prevention of human trafficking, coordinated through the Security Board (Junta de Seguridad).
6. The delegation would require a transfer of staff, assets and budget within six months, and a progressive increase of 26,800 Mossos d'Esquadra officers by 2032. The law would take effect the day after its publication in the official state gazette.

Who it affects

• Foreigners who want to live, study or work in Catalonia: They would process their authorizations and appeals before the Generalitat instead of state bodies.
• Employers and unions in Catalonia: They would submit hiring requests from abroad to the Generalitat.
• Foreigners facing penalty proceedings or held in internment centers: These proceedings and centers would be managed by the Generalitat.
• Mossos d'Esquadra: They would take on police duties in ports, airports, borders and against trafficking, with a planned staff increase.
• Spanish state administration and the Generalitat de Catalunya: They would have to coordinate, share information and transfer staff, assets and budget.

Words worth knowing

Ley orgánica (organic law)

A type of Spanish law reserved for major matters, requiring a heightened majority in Congress to pass.

Delegación de competencias (delegation of powers)

The state lets another administration, here the Generalitat, exercise powers that belong to it.

Centro de Internamiento de Extranjeros (CIE)

A facility where foreigners are held while their expulsion or return is being processed.

Estancia y residencia de larga duración (long-term stay and residence)

Authorizations to live in Spain for a long period, either to study (stay) or on a stable basis (residence).

Junta de Seguridad (Security Board)

A body for police coordination between the state and Catalonia, chaired by the Generalitat.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries