The evaluation of linguistic migratory politics: Catalonia's case

Language is key for the Integration of migrants in host societies. An increasing number of states have adopted language requirements –  mandatory language tests or language courses – for residence permits or nationality. A good number of scholars have echoed the instrumentalization of these measures not for immigrant integration but for migration control. As stated by Markus Rheindorf and Ruth Wodak on Sociolinguistic Perspectives on Migration Control: An Introduction (2020): “The concept of ‘language competence in the host country’s language’ as a salient prerequisite for belonging has become part and parcel of new citizenship laws, regulations and requirements, and is advocated or even championed not only by far-right populist parties but also by mainstream politicians”.

The reflections on language for immigrant integration, however, have often been conducted at state level, with little attention has been paid at sub-state level. The vast majority of works on immigration focus on the state level, and more recently on the European level. This should come as no surprise as immigration policies are commonly defined by the state. While it is true that immigration generally falls under the rubric of central-state control, certain aspects of migration policy – most notably immigrant integration – have been devolved to the sub-state level.

This sub-state approach to immigrant integration becomes even more important when there is an autochthonous language other than the state language spoken in the territory. This distinctive characteristic of some territories means that immigrants are often presented with a challenge when moving to a particular region: integrating also through the minority language of the territory, which might be key for their participation in social, political and economic life of the region. Immigrants, however, tend to adopt the majority language as the best route for social mobility, which subsequently reduces the sub-state population speaking the minority language (Hepburn & Zapata Barrero, 2014).

Against this backdrop, sub-state territories have attempted to gain sufficient competencies on immigrant integration to shape policies and discourses aimed at making the minority language an attractive element in the immigrant integration process.  Catalonia has become the first sub-state territory in Europe to adopt language requirements for immigrants. The 150/2014 Decree on First Reception Services develops the 10/2010 on First Reception Law on immigrant integration, an subject covered in the 138.1 Catalan Statute of Autonomy. The Decree regulates the first reception services and sets a 90-hour language course needed for the First Reception Certificate, a document needed for the immigration procedures (residence permits, social integration certificates or/and nationality).

The goal of this line of this research is to analyze the real effects of these new language requirements for immigrants in Catalonia and to find out whether they represent a true and effective tool for immigrant integration.