The Orihuela City Council is set to vote next week on Vox’s contentious “return ticket” motion, aimed at expelling illegal immigrants from the municipality.
Initially introduced last year, the motion sparked outrage from NGOs such as Vega Baja Acoge and Columbares, who collaborate with the local government to promote social integration.
Vox withdrew the motion in December 2022, citing respect for victims of a deadly flood in Valencia. However, the proposal has now been reintroduced, largely unchanged.
Vox’s motion calls for Orihuela to reject what it terms “open-door policies to illegal immigration.” The party demands the immediate expulsion of undocumented migrants and opposes the establishment of migrant reception centres in the area.
The proposal also seeks to declare Orihuela a municipality that refuses to collaborate with NGOs and associations they allege support human trafficking and illegal immigration.
Vox suggests reallocating municipal funds from these organizations to finance the repatriation of migrants, either to their countries of origin or to Brussels, which they blame for promoting pro-immigration policies.
The motion includes a demand for a public referendum on strengthening local security and expelling undocumented migrants, as well as legal reforms to prevent fraud in the registration process that Vox claims grants migrants undue access to social benefits.
This initiative aligns with Vox’s broader national strategy under party leader Santiago Abascal, who made immigration a central issue after breaking coalition agreements with the Popular Party (PP) in several regional governments last year.
Despite the rhetoric, Vox in Orihuela has not conditioned its continued partnership with the PP on the passage of this motion, which is expected to fail. Opposition parties—PSOE, Ciudadanos, and Cambiemos—are likely to vote against it. The PP, which previously opposed the motion, has yet to confirm its stance but is expected to reject it again.
Although Vox’s anti-immigration rhetoric has gained attention, the current PP-Vox coalition government in Orihuela continues to support migrant integration programs. In September, the Governing Board approved nearly €34,000 in funding for NGOs working with migrants, including Vega Baja Acoge, which received over €19,000. Vox opposed the measure, but the PP’s majority ensured its passage.
Vega Baja Acoge, a key recipient of municipal funds, operates on an annual budget of over €659,000, primarily funded by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration. Contributions from Orihuela City Council represent only 3.3% of the NGO’s total budget.
These funds support programs like temporary accommodation and job training for migrants, with staff expenses making up the largest portion of the budget.
In response to Vox’s motion, Vega Baja Acoge and Columbares have condemned it as a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Spain’s Constitution. They accuse Vox of spreading misinformation and creating unnecessary social tension in Orihuela, which they praise as a model of intercultural coexistence.
Vox, however, continues to criticize immigration policies, accusing NGOs and government agencies of complicity in illegal immigration. Citing incidents of unrest and perceived risks to public safety, the party insists its motion is a necessary measure to protect local communities. Whether this controversial initiative gains traction or further alienates Vox from its coalition partners remains to be seen.
