Long queues formed at government offices in Palma this morning as the new amnesty for illegal immigrants was launched. Up to 500,000 people, mostly South Americans or North Africans, could be offered paperwork to live and work legally in Spain as part of the deal.
In the Balearics there are an estimated 50,000 people, who were living in the islands but without paperwork. The government has said that it is the best way forward especially as the country is suffering from severe labour shortages.
However, critics have said that it will make the immigration problem in Spain even more pronounced. In a bid to alleviate pressure on an already overburdened immigration system, only five of the country's 54 immigration offices will be responsible for handling applications, with the rest distributed among social security offices, post offices and NGOs, according to Spanish union CCOO.