On March 3, the GMF’s Immigration program held the fourth event in the Taking the Immigration Debate Across Borders: GMF’s Embassy Event Series in cooperation with the Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC. The lunch event was an examination of Spain’s immigration policy and efforts the country has taken in cooperating with sending countries when forming policies to manage immigration flows. The panel consisted of Spain’s State Secretary for Immigration and Emigration Anna Terron i Cusi, the Ambassador of Spain to the United States D. Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo, and GMF Senior Transatlantic Fellow Jim Kolbe.  

The event was held under Chatham House Rules at the Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC. Discussion focused on immigration policy in Spain, and steps the country has made in regularization, integration, and circular migration policies. Additional comments touched upon U.S. attempts at regularization in the 1980’s, and items for policymakers to consider when addressing U.S. immigration reform.   Data from GMF’s Transatlantic Trends: Immigration survey was also used to provide a comparative snapshot of attitudes towards immigrants and immigration policies in the United States and Spain.