Spanish police carried out a major eviction on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, removing around 400 migrants from an abandoned school building in Badalona, a working-class city bordering Barcelona. The squat had been home to mostly undocumented migrants, many from Senegal and Gambia, who moved in after the building was abandoned in 2023. Authorities described the building as unsafe, prompting judicial action.
Police from Catalonia’s regional force, dressed in riot gear, entered the premises early in the morning under a court order. By that time, most residents had already left in anticipation of the eviction, seeking alternative shelters. While the operation was completed without physical violence, tensions arose as evacuees passed by armored officers. Spanish National Police detained 18 individuals suspected of residing in the country without authorization, according to lawyer Marta Llonch, who represents the squatters.
Residents described the eviction as particularly harsh given the approaching winter and the Christmas season. “Putting 400 people onto the street in winter just before Christmas, you have to have a hard heart to do that,” said 50-year-old Younous Drame, a Senegalese migrant who had been living in the building.
The judicial order required the Badalona town hall to provide access to social services for the evicted individuals, but it did not mandate housing for all occupants. Llonch warned that many migrants would likely end up on the streets, highlighting the broader housing crisis that has made it difficult even for working Spaniards to afford accommodation. Many squatters had been earning a living by collecting and selling scrap metal, while others, despite having work or residency permits, had no alternative housing options.
As migrants left the building, they transported their belongings using carts and bicycle trailers. Temporary housing was made available to some 30 people by the Badalona town hall, with an additional 60 receiving assistance from Catalonia’s regional social services. Officials noted that these services could offer further temporary accommodation depending on availability.
The eviction was initiated at the request of Badalona’s conservative mayor, Xavier García Albiol, who argued that the squat posed a public safety hazard. He cited a 2020 fire at a nearby factory, which had been occupied by around 100 migrants and resulted in four deaths, as a cautionary example. Following the eviction, García Albiol criticized Spain’s government, stating, “What is unacceptable in this country is that Spain’s government lets absolutely everyone in.”
Spain has seen a steady influx of migrants for over a decade, with many risking dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean or Atlantic. While the Spanish left-wing government has argued that legal migration contributes positively to the economy, local authorities in cities like Badalona have struggled to manage accommodation and safety amid a nationwide housing shortage, leading to growing social tension.
The eviction shows ongoing challenges in balancing migration, public safety, and housing access, particularly in regions with limited affordable accommodation and high numbers of undocumented residents.