Immigrant numbers in Spain reach 5.6 Million

Spain’s current Padrón census has revealed that in excess of 5.6 million foreigners are now registered as living in the Country. Even though the effects of the recession are still being felt, the figure was recorded as being 400,000 higher than a year ago.

The report, issued by the Spanish Office of National Statistics (INE) shows that 5,648,671 foreigners are registered at their Ayuntamiento, five times the amount seen in 2000, with the number issued with a residence permit standing at 4,715,757 as of September 30 2009.

The largest immigrant population is from Morocco, followed by the Romanians and the Ecuador. There are also now over 2.5 million residents from other countries within the EU.

The main areas showing growth of Immigrant numbers were in Madrid - by 58,000, Andalucía by almost 52,000, and the Valencia region by 42,000.

Today also brought reports of an official secret memo being leaked to the press, that the Spanish Interior Ministry are issuing secret express expulsion orders against immigrants who do not hold valid permits. It is thought that more than 84,000 have been deported over the last 2 years.