“The Government is opting for a tougher approach to immigration policy than the EU demands”: criticism of the new asylum and immigration laws

The Spanish government has approved two legislative drafts aimed at reforming the national asylum and immigration laws to align with the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, which took effect in June. The proposed changes, which would replace the existing 2009 asylum legislation, focus on accelerating expulsion procedures and increasing border control measures.

Human rights organizations, specifically the Spanish Commission for Refugees (CEAR), have expressed opposition to the reforms. CEAR has characterized the proposed measures as significant setbacks for human rights, arguing that the government's approach prioritizes restrictive enforcement over the protection of asylum seekers.