Social practices with young refugees and asylum seekers: emergency policies and shortcomings of the Spanish reception system

ABSTRACTYoung refugees and asylum seekers face obstacles in their socio-educational pathways and employability in Catalonia (Spain). This study analyzes the social practice of professionals who provide reception services to young people in not-for-profit organizations. The results show the lack of transformative capacity of social practice, the precariousness of resources, and increasingly restrictive policies weakening the objective of social intervention to promote the social inclusion of these young people in the host society. Therefore, professionals implement “invisible social practices” as strategic support for these young people when the constraints of the reception and integration programs prevent the provision of effective services and support.KEYWORDS: Young refugees and asylum seekersreception systemsocial interventionintersectionalitysituational and inherent vulnerability Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1. For more information, see the following link: El Economista, January 10th, 2022.https://www.eleconomista.es/economia/noticias/11557851/01/22/El-paro-juvenil-en-Espana-bajo-en-noviembre-del-30-por-primera-vez-desde-2008.html2. For more information, see the following link: https://masquecifras.org/3. The acronym indicates the Ministries that develop and finance the reception program: Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (MISSM); Secretary of State for Migration (SEM); General Directorate of Integration and Humanitarian Assistance (DGIAH); General Subdirectorate of the International Protection Programme (SGPPI). https://inclusion.seg-social.es/documents/410169/2156565/Manual_de_Gestion_version_4.1.pdf/ab9db8da-e616-31ca-d7c2-227d742bee62?version=1.0&t=1675940390641&download=false4. Once the Office of Asylum and Refugee (OAR) accepts the asylum application, people receive an International Protection Application Document that grants a temporary residence in Spanish territories until their asylum case is resolved. After six months, they receive another document (commonly called “Red Card” due to the color of the paper that it is printed on) which grants a temporary residence and work permit.5. The arraigo social is a temporary residence due to exceptional circumstances that are granted to people with an irregular legal status once they proved they have lived in Spanish territories for at least three years.