Anti-Migrant Sentiment Prevails in Spain as Spaniards Grow Tired of Pro-Immigration Government

Anti-Migrant Sentiment Prevails in Spain as Spaniards Grow Tired of Pro-Immigration Government

Two Moroccan youths brutally beat an elderly man in the town of Torre-Pacheco. Outrage has not subsided in southeastern Spain, leading to protests and riots. Spain has long been such a popular destination for migrants that even those who temporarily settle elsewhere eventually return. The Spanish government’s refugee policy significantly contributes to this, increasingly approving asylum applications and providing migrants with both financial aid and work permits.

English POLITIKA 2025. JÚLIUS 15. 15:54

In Torre-Pacheco, migrants make up around 30 percent of the population – twice the national average. The surrounding area is home to a large number of migrants who work as day labourers in agriculture, one of the economic pillars of the Murcia region. In this town of approximately 40,000 people, locals have organised yet another protest against the migrants living there, after some attacked an elderly local resident.

In an interview with a Spanish TV channel, 68-year-old Domingo Tomas Martinez recalled being attacked and beaten by migrants during his morning walk.

„Like every morning, I set off on my usual walk. I saw a Moroccan man with a mobile phone, and another one who was gesturing wildly and shouting loudly. I couldn’t understand a word he was saying. I walked on another eight to ten metres. Then someone came running towards me, I couldn’t see clearly. He ran at me and hit me, and I fell to the ground,”

he recounted. The attackers were two Moroccan men, aged 21 and 22, both of whom are illegal immigrants.

The attack sparked protests, with around 2,000 people taking part in demonstrations against Spain’s refugee policy, which escalated into riots. Angry Spaniards chased North Africans through the streets, and Moroccan migrants fought back, leading to street clashes. Five people were injured and one person was arrested.

Protesters marched through the streets carrying signs that read “Yes to co-existence, no to crime” and “No to violence”.

In response, migrants turned against the locals and began attacking them, while the town’s mayor came to the defense of the migrants.

„I ask the migrant community not to leave their homes and not to confront the rioters, because confrontation achieves nothing and ultimately makes us all afraid,”

said Mayor Pedro Angel Roca in an interview with state television channel TVE.

Spanish authorities arrested eight people following three nights of clashes. Two foreigners were detained on suspicion of involvement in the assault. Six others – five Spaniards and one person from North Africa – were arrested for bodily harm, public disorder, hate crimes or damage to property. Co-existence with migrants has been a recurring issue in Spain for decades, periodically resulting in unrest. In 2000, anti-immigration protests broke out in the town of El Ejido in Almeria after three Spanish citizens were killed by Moroccan migrants.

THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS MIGRANTS

The number of migrants in Spain continues to grow, due to the pro-immigration policies followed by the Spanish government. In 2023, 12 per cent of submitted asylum applications were approved; this rose to 18.5 percent in 2024. For migrants from certain countries, such as Mali, Sudan and Somalia, the approval rate exceeds 90 per cent. This clearly demonstrates the Spanish government’s openness to migration and its perceived economic benefits, even in the face of public protest.

„Spain is not a country that hunts down immigrants, and if we have to take to the streets, it is to defend the rights of thousands of people who are completely trapped and distressed by this hunt for immigrants,”

Migration Minister Elma Saiz told El Pais newspaper.

The minister also proudly announced on her social media account that the number of registered foreign nationals in Spain increased by 25,184 in June alone. In her post, Elma Saiz wrote:

This accounts for one-third of the jobs created in the month. One in every seven social security contributors is of foreign origin.

In another post, Elma Saiz made her position even clearer:

Migrants boost the economy of every community. In Murcia, for example, the number of employees has grown by more than 7.5 per cent in a year. In light of recent events, it is worth remembering their contribution – though it is unfortunate that we even need to. They are people with rights.

The minister also quoted Princess Leonor, daughter of the king of Spain, who in a recent speech highlighted the importance of inclusion.

„In these turbulent times, we need more speeches like that of the Princess of Asturias, which remind us of our migrant past and reinforce the inclusive country we still are today,”

Elma Saiz wrote on X.

Cover image: Clashes between migrants and anti-migrant protesters in Spain
Source: screenshot/Rtve

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