"With most European leaders talking tougher about immigration amid a rise in far-right populism and Trump administration warnings that they could face "civilizational erasure" unless they tighten their borders, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stands apart. The Iberian nation has taken in millions of people from Latin America and Africa in recent years, and the leftist Sánchez regularly extols the financial and social benefits that immigrants who legally come to Spain bring to the eurozone's fourth-largest economy."
"His words stand in stark contrast to other Western leaders, and so far, his bet seems to be paying off. Spain's economy has grown faster than any other EU nation for a second year in a row, due in part to newcomers boosting its aging workforce. "Today, Spain's progress and strong economic situation owe much to the contribution of the migrants who have come to Spain to develop their life projects," Sánchez said in July after anti-migrant clashes rocked a small southern Spanish town."
Spain has welcomed millions of migrants from Latin America and Africa and integrates legally arriving immigrants into its labor market. Spanish leadership frames immigration as a choice between being an open and prosperous country or a closed and poor one. Newcomers have helped offset an aging workforce and contributed to Spain's economy growing faster than any other EU nation for two consecutive years. European political mood has hardened amid rising far-right populism and Trump administration warnings about potential "civilizational erasure" unless borders are tightened. Domestic far-right party Vox promotes strongly anti-immigrant rhetoric, especially against Muslim migrants, while Spain's government directly confronts and counters that narrative.
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