The irruption of COVID-19 in the Spanish asylum system: Almería as a case study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the process of acquiring autonomy for asylum seekers in Spain who are in the Reception System for Applicants and Beneficiaries of International Protection (SAISAR). This article analyses the impact of the COVID-19 measures and the changes in political strategy from the perspective of professionals who work with refugees. The negative effects on services of the specific reception programme are determined based on fieldwork from Almería. Mainly, they are the result of communication issues, the digital divide, slow administrative processes and prolonged stays in prior stages, added to which is an acceleration of decisions – mostly negative – which has left many asylum seekers outside the system.

Keywords

• spain
• almería
• reception
• digital divide
• covid-19
• discrimination
• international protection
• refugees