In a groundbreaking move that challenges the European immigration crackdown, Spain's government, under Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has received over 1.2 million applications for legal status from undocumented migrants since launching an expansive regularization plan in April. This surge in applications, with Latin Americans accounting for a majority at 67%, is part of a broader effort to foster open immigration policies amidst growing European hostility towards irregular migration. The scheme, which requires applicants to have a clean criminal record and prove residency since January 1, could potentially benefit over half a million individuals, with Latin American nations like Colombia, Morocco, Venezuela, and Peru being the most represented. As Spain grapples with labor shortages in sectors such as construction, the government emphasizes that immigration is vital to maintaining its economic growth, estimating that without it, Spain would lose 19% of its GDP by 2050, leading to the closure of thousands of businesses and schools, and the disappearance of around 220,000 farms. While Spanish business leaders welcome this initiative, conservative and far-right opposition parties criticize it as an encouragement for irregular immigration, with the leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, branding the scheme as an "invasion."