Immigration. The Return of What Already Belongs to Them

Immigration. The Return of What Already Belongs to Them

Immigration is a multifaceted phenomenon, driven by the search for better opportunities, flight from conflict or persecution for political, religious, or identity reasons, and the hope of a more dignified life. The immigrants arriving in Europe today are not only seeking work or refuge; in a sense, they are returning to places that, directly or indirectly, owe them part of their wealth.

For centuries, European powers such as Spain, France, or England dominated vast territories in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, exploiting resources and stripping people of freedom and autonomy. Colonialism was not merely a period of conquest; it was a systematic process of plunder that shaped the economies and societies of former colonies. Now, in a historical turn, many descendants of colonized peoples seek opportunities in the very regions that once took so much from them.

Spain and Latin America: a historical bond of plunder

Spain is one of the European countries most affected by immigration today, but it was also one of the most influential colonial powers. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spanish empire dominated vast territories in Latin America, extracting enormous quantities of resources, especially gold and silver, which financed its expansion and prosperity. Meanwhile, Indigenous peoples were brutally exploited, dispossessed of their lands, and forced into labor.

The echoes of this historical plunder still resonate in the economies of many Latin American countries. Poverty, inequality, and political instability cannot be separated from the destruction of their economic and social systems during the colonial era.

France and Africa: exploitation that never ended

French colonialism in Africa left deep scars, and many of those wounds still bleed. France maintained brutal control in territories across North and West Africa, extracting resources such as oil, gas, minerals, and other valuable products. Independence in the mid‑20th century did not end French control of these economies. France continues to exert strong influence through trade and military agreements that perpetuate resource extraction.

One example: mining in countries such as Mali, Niger, and the Central African Republic. Major French corporations continue to exploit uranium, gold, and other minerals while local populations live in extreme poverty. This neocolonial dynamic not only deprives these nations of the benefits of their own resources but also perpetuates political instability and economic dependence.

Africans arriving in Europe today are only seeking what is theirs. Their lands, resources, and, in many cases, their lives have been used to enrich European powers. In a globalized world, migratory flows are, in many ways, a natural return to the heart of this historical imbalance. France, which still maintains strategic interests in Africa, should acknowledge its responsibility in the crises that push millions to seek a better life in Europe.

Modern neocolonialism

Although colonial eras have ended, systems of domination and exploitation continue in other forms. Today, major European and U.S. corporations still exploit natural resources in the Global South, backed by trade agreements that favor developed economies. These agreements often perpetuate poverty and inequality in developing nations, which continue to export raw materials while importing finished products at much higher prices.

In addition, Europe’s restrictive migration policies, along with military interventions in regions such as Africa and the Middle East, create a cycle of dependence and exploitation that reinforces global inequalities. In this context, immigration to Europe is not only about people seeking better opportunities; it is also a way of restoring the economic and social balance broken by centuries of colonialism and exploitation.

Europe’s historical debt

It is impossible to talk about immigration without acknowledging the historical debt Europe owes to many of the regions from which migrants come today. Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East were stripped of resources and people for centuries to enrich European powers. Today those same countries face hardships that, in many cases, are the direct result of colonial plunder.

In this context, Europe must not only welcome immigrants but also make a genuine effort to reverse exploitative policies that still persist. This implies not only opening borders but ending unfair trade agreements, respecting the sovereignty of Global South nations, and supporting sustainable development in the regions most affected by centuries of domination.

Immigration as historical justice

Immigration is not just a matter of human mobility; in many ways it is a form of historical justice. The immigrants who arrive in Europe are not asking for charity or benefits that do not belong to them. They are returning to centers of power that for centuries dominated their lands and lives. Their presence is a reminder that colonialism did not end with formal independence and that global inequalities remain the engine of migration.

Recognizing this does not mean ignoring the challenges immigration presents, but it does mean understanding that the response should not be criminalization or closed borders. It should be fair, equitable policies that allow everyone, regardless of origin, to live with dignity and opportunity anywhere in the world.

Immigration in Spain: long processes, injustice, and criminalization

While immigration can be seen as historical justice, people arriving in Europe—especially in Spain—face considerable barriers. In recent years, political discourse on immigration has become increasingly polarized. Parties such as VOX and, to a lesser extent, the People’s Party (PP), have exploited fear and economic uncertainty to demonize immigrants, portraying them as a threat to jobs, security, and public services.

One of the main problems immigrants face in Spain is the long, bureaucratic regularization process. For many, obtaining residency or a work permit can take years, leaving them in extreme vulnerability. They survive in a kind of legal limbo, without access to fundamental rights, often exposed to labor exploitation and discrimination. The so‑called “immigration law” has been criticized by human‑rights organizations for its harshness, frequently forcing immigrants to live in the shadows.

Statistics that debunk myths about aid

One of the most widespread myths promoted by the far right is the idea that immigrants receive aid without working while Spanish citizens suffer from a lack of support. This claim has no basis in reality. Immigrants often have more limited access to social aid due to irregular status or lack of documentation.

Data show that immigrants contribute more to the system than they receive. In 2021, Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) reported that immigrants represented 10% of the active population, contributing significantly to sectors like agriculture, construction, and elder care. Yet they access only about 5% of social spending, disproving the idea that they drain state resources. Their contribution is essential to sustaining the pension system in a country with an aging population.

Criminalization of immigrants by the far right

The rise of parties like VOX, which openly criminalize immigrants, has exacerbated racism and xenophobia in Spain. With inflammatory rhetoric, the party has described immigrants as an “invasion” and blamed them for economic and security problems, despite statistics not supporting these claims. Crimes committed by immigrants represent a tiny share of the total; immigrants are often more vulnerable to crime than likely to commit it.

This rhetoric is not exclusive to Spain. The rise of the far right across Europe has brought increasingly restrictive policies toward migrants. In countries like Italy, the post‑fascist government of Giorgia Meloni has implemented agreements to deport immigrants to Albania, externalizing the management of refugees and migrants. These measures, aimed at evading responsibility for reception, are part of a broader pattern in which the European Union prices migrant lives, paying third countries such as Turkey or Morocco to keep people outside European borders.

The “externalization” of immigration: paying others to handle it

Europe has opted for what some call the “externalization” of immigration. Instead of jointly addressing the humanitarian challenge, many European countries prefer paying others to manage immigrants at their borders. This has been seen in agreements like the 2016 deal with Turkey, under which the EU promised billions of euros for Turkey to host Syrian refugees, preventing them from reaching Europe. A similar approach has been used with Morocco, which receives European funds to halt the arrival of sub‑Saharan immigrants to Spain.

These agreements dehumanize migrants, turning them into a commodity whose price is determined by how much European countries are willing to pay for others to handle them. Rather than creating fair systems of reception and integration, Europe chooses to keep migrants away, often in inhumane and dangerous conditions.

Final reflection

Throughout the 20th century, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, hundreds of thousands of Spaniards were forced to emigrate in search of better opportunities. Germany, France, Switzerland, and countries in Latin America were common destinations. Many were received with suspicion and prejudice, facing discrimination similar to what many immigrants in Spain experience today. Yet Spaniards contributed to the development of those economies, doing work essential to the prosperity of host countries.

That experience as immigrants should help us understand that human mobility is a natural phenomenon in a globalized society.

Immigration has helped balance the demographic pyramid in a continent where population aging threatens pension systems and economic growth. While birth rates in Spain and other European countries have dropped dramatically, immigrants have brought new families, keeping hope for a sustainable future alive.

Beyond economic impact, immigration has profoundly enriched European culture. Cultural diversity is reflected in our cities, in gastronomy, art, and music. The mixing of cultures and traditions has created a more vibrant and dynamic society where different ways of life coexist and enrich each other.

We must be aware that our countries are, in part, responsible for many of the living conditions that exist in the world. Our actions have consequences, and sooner or later, they are paid. We should not forget when Europe went to war in the Yugoslav conflict without a United Nations resolution. It had never happened before, and we took part in an illegal war that destroyed the lives of millions.

I am fortunate to have a rich group of friends who were not born in this country. Thanks to them, my life is much richer than it was before. They broke down any prejudice I might have had—and made my life fuller and more interesting. Without exaggeration, I am a better person because of them, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Immigration is not a problem; it is the solution to many problems. It is a gift that life gives us. We only need to value it and demand that our governments, for once, do the job we are paying them to do.

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