Catalonia’s Language Requirement for Immigrants and Officials: A Policy Shift
Victòria Alsina advocates for the mandatory knowledge of Catalan among immigrants and public officials in a recent interview.
Victòria Alsina, a leader of the political party Junts and former Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Generalitat of Catalonia, has called for the knowledge of the Catalan language to be a requirement not only for immigrants but also for judges, tax inspectors, and train operators of Renfe working in Catalonia.
Alsina's remarks come in the context of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) reaching an agreement with Junts to transfer control of border management to the Generalitat, which includes a stipulation that knowledge of Catalan will be required for residence permits for immigrants.
During her interview, Alsina emphasized that making Catalan proficiency a requirement is beneficial for both national and social cohesion in Catalonia and for newly arriving individuals.
She stated that non-Catalan speakers may face discrimination compared to those who are bilingual in both Catalan and Spanish, highlighting the need for equitable treatment.
Alsina posited that enforcing Catalan knowledge among immigrants and people moving from other regions of Spain could serve as a tool for improving integration.
She described this policy as a means to facilitate social mobility and to establish a model of rights and responsibilities that can benefit both newcomers and the local society.
Moreover, when pressed about whether the language requirement should extend to all state officials, including train operators, tax inspectors, and judges, Alsina affirmed her support for this measure.
In November, the government approved a new Immigration Regulation that introduces knowledge of co-official languages as a criterion for granting or renewing residency permits for immigrants.
As part of the recently established agreement, the Generalitat will now be responsible for processing residency applications and has also obtained the authority to expel irregular immigrants.
The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, will also take on the responsibility of monitoring ports and airports, collaborating with the national police and the Civil Guard in border control measures.
Alsina specified that the Mossos will be involved in both independent and coordinated efforts regarding these controls and emphasized the importance of their role as a reference authority for arrivals at these entry points.
Alsina noted that the negotiations to secure the agreement were prolonged due to resistance from the Minister of Interior, who had initially demanded the resignation of the minister to advance discussions.
She urged against criminalizing immigrants in connection with criminal activity but acknowledged the need to exclude individuals who come to commit crimes, seeking a balance in policy enforcement.
Under the new agreement, the Generalitat will have the authority to launch all administrative procedures related to residency permits, including expulsions, in collaboration with other administrative bodies.
Alsina confirmed that the Generalitat would manage the Centres d'Internament d'Estrangers (CIE) in Catalonia, which have faced scrutiny for their conditions, advocating for a shift towards more humane treatment.
She outlined that these centers serve a temporary residency purpose for individuals in irregular administrative situations, awaiting expulsion orders, and stressed the importance of a careful and compassionate approach to this challenging situation.
Alsina's remarks come in the context of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) reaching an agreement with Junts to transfer control of border management to the Generalitat, which includes a stipulation that knowledge of Catalan will be required for residence permits for immigrants.
During her interview, Alsina emphasized that making Catalan proficiency a requirement is beneficial for both national and social cohesion in Catalonia and for newly arriving individuals.
She stated that non-Catalan speakers may face discrimination compared to those who are bilingual in both Catalan and Spanish, highlighting the need for equitable treatment.
Alsina posited that enforcing Catalan knowledge among immigrants and people moving from other regions of Spain could serve as a tool for improving integration.
She described this policy as a means to facilitate social mobility and to establish a model of rights and responsibilities that can benefit both newcomers and the local society.
Moreover, when pressed about whether the language requirement should extend to all state officials, including train operators, tax inspectors, and judges, Alsina affirmed her support for this measure.
In November, the government approved a new Immigration Regulation that introduces knowledge of co-official languages as a criterion for granting or renewing residency permits for immigrants.
As part of the recently established agreement, the Generalitat will now be responsible for processing residency applications and has also obtained the authority to expel irregular immigrants.
The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, will also take on the responsibility of monitoring ports and airports, collaborating with the national police and the Civil Guard in border control measures.
Alsina specified that the Mossos will be involved in both independent and coordinated efforts regarding these controls and emphasized the importance of their role as a reference authority for arrivals at these entry points.
Alsina noted that the negotiations to secure the agreement were prolonged due to resistance from the Minister of Interior, who had initially demanded the resignation of the minister to advance discussions.
She urged against criminalizing immigrants in connection with criminal activity but acknowledged the need to exclude individuals who come to commit crimes, seeking a balance in policy enforcement.
Under the new agreement, the Generalitat will have the authority to launch all administrative procedures related to residency permits, including expulsions, in collaboration with other administrative bodies.
Alsina confirmed that the Generalitat would manage the Centres d'Internament d'Estrangers (CIE) in Catalonia, which have faced scrutiny for their conditions, advocating for a shift towards more humane treatment.
She outlined that these centers serve a temporary residency purpose for individuals in irregular administrative situations, awaiting expulsion orders, and stressed the importance of a careful and compassionate approach to this challenging situation.
Translation:
Translated by AI
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