..Amid the French debate on a migration halt, the Spanish government is taking a different approach with its decision to put a new law to parliament that would grant at least one year of legal residence to people who are already in the country without permits.
Spanish Minister of Migration Elma Saiz estimated this could help 500,000 people living in Spain without authorisation.
The draft plan would grant legal status to foreigners who arrived in Spain before December 31 last year and could prove they had lived in the country for at least five months without any criminal record.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been a vocal supporter of giving asylum to people fleeing persecution and has argued against the curbs on migration advocated by right-wing parties, setting up a major test on the issue at the national election due by August next year.
Immigration freeze on table as deep rift splits Europe. By David Crowe, SMH