The storm of rumors about regularization

Every time I peek at TikTok, the only thing I find is an avalanche of content about a single topic: mass regularization. Being one of the migrants who has taken advantage of this extraordinary process — for now I only have an admission to processing that allows me to work provisionally — what started as a space to solve some doubt or come across people in a situation similar to mine has turned into a guaranteed anxiety ticket.

Read more Carmody Grey, the philosopher who said no to Anthropic: “We are increasingly alone and getting dumber”

Those of us immersed in bureaucracy know that few things make you feel as alone as the string of procedures. Every time someone asks me how I am, I can give a quick class on immigration or resort to the always effective “fine.” We speak a language full of forms, deadlines, and details that, no matter how much attention others pay us, are difficult to retain, even for ourselves. That’s why it was good to find people on social media willing to explain what it was about, back in distant April.

However, to date there are many videos that hook with alarmist openings: “Many denials are being received” or “Is it true that in immigration it is artificial intelligence that resolves files?”. Behind them are mostly law firms, processors, or people whose only experience is having made their own application. Added to this are users who explain the steps to follow after receiving the admission to processing or the long-awaited residence. And recently arrived those who proudly share a screenshot of their favorable resolution.

Talking with friends who have their own migration processes, they assure me that, as could be expected, this is not an exclusive phenomenon of TikTok and that those who have residence for studies or those who can already aspire to nationality receive posts tailored to them. I am not in the head of all migrants wandering on social networks, but comments like “Help, I submitted my application in April” or “I check every day and nothing,” tell me that maybe I am not the only one to whom a few minutes online leave the feeling that their file has ended up in the spam folder. Maybe some of those who talk about the topic do so from a genuine intention to help, but it is inevitable to think that they are also motivated by an interest in potential clients or going viral, at the expense of an issue that is very delicate for many.

Not to mention the racist content that finds in regularization and in those of us who make use of it the scapegoat for all evil. The crisis in Ceuta has increased the number of messages about the supposed “call effect” or the idea that there is no control of criminal records, even though these were one of the crucial requirements to submit the procedure.

Read more 25 years of Tadeo Jones: the archaeologist is now a father and uses AI

The loose ends of the process are also a perfect opportunity to increase collective hysteria, like the recent commotion about the validity of the provisional permit for which the idea spread that there is a deadline for concessions that “expires” after three months. An issue that was alleviated with an interpretative criterion from the Government. The same happened when the Supreme Court opened the door to elevate the entire process to European justice. So strengthening official communication channels, using accessible language, could be the best way to combat this whirlwind of information and hoaxes.

Meanwhile, I will continue exercising my patience and try to exorcise my algorithm until I receive the only notification that really matters to me. There will be plenty of time, never better said, to lose it when I have to get one of the scarce appointments for fingerprinting or, of course, when I have to renew my permit, as a year flies by.