Every December 18th, the International Migrants Day invites us to reflect on human mobility, that constant that has defined our species since the beginning of time. It is a reminder that, behind every migratory movement, there is a story of struggle, a longing for the future and, above all, a life that deserves to be respected.
Spain, and particularly the Canary Islands, knows what it means to emigrate. Not long ago, thousands of Canarians had to leave their land in search of opportunities in Cuba, Venezuela or Latin America. They were generously welcomed by countries that understood their reality, that opened their doors to them. This historical experience morally obliges us to act with responsibility, but also with memory. Because addressing immigration is not a matter of compassion: it is a matter of justice and dignity.
However, at this crucial moment, we face a blockade that puts that dignity at risk. The Popular Party's refusal to modify article 35 of the Immigration Law is a clear sign of the lack of political will to face the challenges of immigration from a humanitarian and realistic approach. This reform is essential so that migrants can fully integrate into our society, accessing rights and opportunities that not only improve their lives, but also enrich our coexistence and strengthen essential sectors for the common welfare. Maintaining a situation of irregularity not only condemns them to precariousness, but also deprives our society of their legitimate contribution.
The Popular Party's lack of solidarity does not end there. Its refusal to establish a co-responsibility mechanism between the autonomous communities that receive immigrants endangers territorial cohesion and leaves regions such as the Canary Islands in an unsustainable situation. The responsibility for a global phenomenon cannot be placed on the shoulders of a few communities. Migration is a shared challenge, and as such, it demands solidarity and coordinated responses.
The PSOE's approach has always been clear: immigration cannot be managed from fear or indifference. It is about human lives, not numbers. It is about guaranteeing rights, not building walls. The solution is not in the criminalization of those who arrive in search of refuge or in simplistic speeches that fuel xenophobia. The solution lies in strengthening integration mechanisms, respecting international treaties and addressing this phenomenon from empathy and responsibility.
The Canary Islands, with its migrant history and its position as the southern border of Europe, must raise its voice. We cannot allow political selfishness to drown out the solidarity that has always characterized us as a people. We demand that action be taken with a broad vision and a sense of State, that the lives of migrant people not be used as a political weapon. Because this is not about left or right, this is about humanity.
Let us never forget that no one leaves their home on a whim. The migrants who arrive on our coasts do so because they have no other option, because the sea offers them a hope that has been denied to them on land. The only legitimate response to this reality is to lend a hand. Not out of compassion, but out of justice. Not out of pity, but because we all deserve to live with dignity.
The Canary Islands is being abandoned and humiliated by the Popular Party's refusal to assume its responsibility in the management of immigration. Our land, which has proven to be supportive and welcoming, is now bearing alone a challenge that belongs to everyone. The lack of support and the lack of solidarity towards the communities that suffer the most from the impact of this phenomenon is not only a betrayal of the spirit of unity that should guide the country, but a sign of contempt for the dignity of those of us who live here. The Canary Islands deserves respect and commitment, not the abandonment of those who prefer to look the other way.
On this International Migrants Day, let us claim a more humane, more just, more supportive Spain. Let us continue working for an immigration management that respects the rights of all people and that honors our history. Because a country that forgets its past loses its way, and a country that denies dignity to others loses its soul.