MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spain to check illegal immigrants “hot routes”

Spanish authorities currently tightening migration controls announced that airlines flying into Spain in the near future will have to report all passengers' names, announced Interior Minister Jose Antonio Alonso.

The measure is already effective for Spanish airlines, Iberia, Spanair and Air Europa and demands that companies after embarkation and before the aircraft takes off must report the passengers list.

This applies in the framework of the Ley de Extranjería, (Foreigners Bill) and amendments which became effective December 2003.

Mr. Alonso reporting to the Justice Committee of the Chamber of Deputies said this will enable authorities to check passengers' information in the so called "hot routes" of illegal immigration to Spain. The data is fed onto a Migration's information system shared with the national police.

Apparently the system will help identify and eventually cull those visitors arriving in Spain on a normal tourist's visa with three months validity, but with the intention of staying on becoming illegal immigrants.

It is estimated that of the 3,69 million foreigners living in Spain, 1,7 million are residing illegally.

According to current legislation airlines that do not comply and communicate passengers list can be fined up to 60,000 Euros and whoever favors illegal immigration could end paying half a million Euros.