Spain’s approval of a plan to grant legal residency to more than half a million illegal migrants has been met by a wave of mass disapproval across Europe. Some are so concerned about the fact anyone granted residency will be able to travel freely across the Schengen area that they want the border-free travel zone to be suspended.

In neighbouring France, Pierre-Marie Sève, from the Institute for Justice, predicted that “tens of thousands” of the newly regularised migrants will cross the border from Spain “in the coming weeks.”

This is a catastrophe and Schengen must be suspended as quickly as possible.

National Rally President Jordan Bardella agreed that Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Spain “is becoming the gateway for the migrant submersion into Europe.” Bardella has proposed a “reform” to the Schengen scheme, “reserving freedom of movement solely for European citizens.”

L'Espagne de M. Sanchez devient la porte d'entrée de la submersion migratoire en Europe.

Nous voulons porter une réforme de l'espace Schengen, réservant la libre circulation aux seuls citoyens européens. #Porto @PatriotesEurope pic.twitter.com/KiimECinVd

— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) April 22, 2026

Concerns are not aided by reports that the number of migrants in the European Union reached a record high of 64.2 million in 2025. The figure compares with 40 million in 2010, according to a new study.

French politician Matthias Renault highlighted that these now amount for a seventh of the European population, adding: “We must not blame them. But these European leaders who want our disappearance, yes.”

In Germany, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel on Wednesday complained that the federal government led by Friedrich Merz “has completely surrendered control over Germany’s borders.”

And back in Spain, Santiago Abascal, who leads the opposition VOX party, has suggested that “some unscrupulous figures, well aligned with Sánchez, applaud mass immigration to obtain slave labour.” Others say the establishment is working to “rig” future elections.

Abascal added:

The Spanish people are fed up with mass immigration, its consequences, and its promoters, who are also its beneficiaries.