Police in northeastern Spain have carried out a major eviction operation, clearing hundreds of undocumented migrants from an abandoned school building they had occupied north of Barcelona.
Dawn Raid on Abandoned School
On Wednesday, 17 December 2025, officers from Catalonia's regional police force, equipped in riot gear, entered the premises of the former school in Badalona under a court order. The operation began in the early morning, but most occupants had already vacated the building, having anticipated the eviction.
The squat, located in the working-class city of Badalona which borders Barcelona, had been home to hundreds of mostly sub-Saharan migrants. A significant number originated from Senegal and Gambia. They had moved into the structure after it was left abandoned in 2023.
Safety Fears and Political Stance
The local town hall, led by Mayor Xavier García Albiol of the conservative Popular Party, had pushed for the clearance. Albiol, who has built a political career on an anti-immigration platform, announced the move on social media platform X. He stated the eviction of "400 illegal squatters" had begun as promised.
Authorities argued the occupation posed a significant public safety hazard. This concern was amplified by a tragic precedent in Badalona: in 2020, a fire at an old factory occupied by around a hundred migrants resulted in four fatalities.
No Alternative Shelter
Legal representative for the squatters, lawyer Marta Llonch, described the precarious situation of the former residents. She explained that many survived by selling scrap metal collected from streets, while a few held residency and work permits but could not afford proper housing.
Llonch warned of the immediate consequences, telling The Associated Press: "Many people are going to sleep on the street tonight... If you don't give them an alternative place to live they will now be on the street, which will be a problem for them and the city."
The eviction spotlights the broader migration pressures facing Spain. Like other southern European nations, it has experienced a steady influx of migrants over more than a decade, many risking perilous sea crossings. While Spain's left-wing government has cited the economic benefits of legal migration, this incident underscores the acute challenges of housing and integrating new arrivals.
