A representative from the Vice-Ministry of Social Welfare has expressed concern about the current state of the regularization process. This statement was made during an informational session organized in collaboration with CEAR, held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
“"We are demanding more coordination from the State. The Canary Islands are not competent in this matter, but we are very concerned about the regularization situation. We have been waiting all year for the State to convene the Sectoral Conference on Immigration, and it was only last Friday that we were informed it will be on May 5th."
It is hoped that the upcoming Sectoral Conference, scheduled for May 5th, will clarify the doubts that have arisen among administrations and affected individuals. Although no exact figure has been provided, it is estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 people could benefit from this process.
This extraordinary process is seen as a positive opportunity for many individuals already residing in the Canary Islands, some working informally, to fully integrate, contributing to the islands' growth through contributions and taxes.
The director of Social Services and Immigration has reported that the Canarian Executive had already informed the Canarian Immigration Forum about the organization of these informational sessions. Additionally, a working group has been created within the Forum that will convene FECAM and FECAI to coordinate the actions of municipalities and island councils, given the perceived lack of state coordination.
Currently, in the Canary Islands, 22 accredited entities, along with 24 post offices and two Social Security offices, are available for the process. However, a territorial coordinator for CEAR in the Canary Islands has noted that while many people are seeking advice, the number of collaborating entities is limited, especially in the non-capital islands.
Key challenges identified include access to information, obtaining the vulnerability certificate (considered a "bottleneck"), and the public administration's capacity to manage all appointments, as individuals in irregular situations lack a PIN key or digital certificate. Despite these challenges, it is emphasized that no one should be left out of the process.
The Government of the Canary Islands, through its immigration web portal, provides a list of registered entities authorized by the central Executive in the archipelago to offer necessary information about the regularization process. These training sessions will conclude on April 29th with an online event that has attracted over five hundred participants.
