Challenges of Immigrant Integration in Spanish Local Governments

Abstract

The chapter analyses the evolution of migratory flows in Spain over the last few decades and how both the definition of migratory policy by the responsible authorities and the perceptions and attitudes of the population in the face of the migratory phenomenon oscillate depending on the economic climate of the country. Furthermore, the chapter shows the multilevel characteristics of migration policy, how the different territorial administrations have shared responsibilities and how specifically the municipalities are the gateway to assistance and integration programmes for immigrants and refugees, and develop specific schemes which are more or less developed depending on their institutional capacity.