Police carried out a court-ordered eviction at an abandoned school in Badalona, near Barcelona, removing roughly 400 mostly undocumented migrants after judges deemed the building unsafe. The operation ended without major violence, though 18 people were detained on suspicion of irregular residence. The court required access to social services but did not force the town hall to house everyone; local authorities plan temporary shelter for about 30 people and Catalan services are assisting another 60. Advocates warn many could still end up homeless during winter, sparking debate over migration and Spain's housing crisis.
About 400 Migrants Evicted From Unsafe Squat Near Barcelona as Winter Approaches
Migrants confront police as they begin carrying out eviction orders at an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants had been living, in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Police in northeastern Spain carried out a court-ordered eviction early Wednesday to clear an abandoned school in Badalona, a working-class city just north of Barcelona, where roughly 400 mostly undocumented migrants had been living in a squat.
A migrant's belongings are packed before he leaves as police in the background prepares to carry out eviction orders at an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants had been living, in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Judicial authorities had declared the building unsafe, and Catalonia's regional police entered the premises in riot gear. Officials said the operation concluded without physical violence, though there were tense moments as residents left and passed armored officers.
A migrant argues with a riot police officer as police begin carrying out eviction orders at an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants had been living, in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A Judicial Order And Limited Obligations
The court order required the Badalona town hall to ensure the evicted people had access to social services but did not obligate local authorities to provide housing for all squatters. The town hall has offered temporary accommodation to about 30 people, while Catalonia's regional social services are assisting some 60 others and may provide temporary housing for some of them, officials and local media reported.
Migrants from Romania and Senegal sit in a makeshift bar inside an abandoned school in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, where hundreds of migrants have been occupying the building. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Detentions And Personal Accounts
Spain's National Police detained 18 people on suspicion of residing in the country without authorization, lawyer Marta Llonch told The Associated Press. Many of those forced to leave were from sub-Saharan Africa, predominantly Senegal and Gambia.
A migrant carries his belongings as police began carrying out eviction orders at an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants had been living, in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
“Putting 400 people onto the street in winter just before Christmas, you have to have a hard heart to do that,” said Younous Drame, a 50-year-old man from Senegal who was among those evicted.
Llonch warned that without alternative housing many would likely sleep on the street. “Just because you evict these people it doesn’t mean they disappear,” she said, urging authorities to provide longer-term solutions.
Why The Eviction Took Place
Conservative Badalona Mayor Xavier García Albiol requested the eviction, arguing the empty public school posed a public safety risk. Officials cited a 2020 fire in an abandoned Badalona factory that killed four migrants as a grim precedent supporting removal of hazardous squats.
Many residents had supported themselves by collecting and selling scrap metal. Others held residency or work permits but were pushed into the squat because rising housing costs and a cost-of-living squeeze left them unable to afford rent—an issue that has fueled protests and political debate across Spain.
Broader Context
Like other southern European countries, Spain has seen steady migration flows over the past decade, including dangerous sea crossings. While some governments adopt stricter migration policies, Spain's left-leaning national government has argued that managed legal migration contributes to economic growth. The Badalona eviction has intensified local and national discussion about how to balance public safety, humanitarian needs and housing policy.
Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
