The Chronic 'sin citas' Crisis: From Appointment Fraud to Discrimination Against Refugee Women in Spain
The Chronic 'sin citas' Crisis: From Appointment Fraud to Discrimination Against Refugee Women in Spain
November 10, 2025, 08:27 CET | Madrid, Spain |
Spain's appointment system for immigration and asylum offices continues to be a source of systemic violations — ranging from organized fraud to administrative discrimination against vulnerable groups, particularly refugee women.
On October 16, 2025, in the Puente de Vallecas district of Madrid, Spain’s National Police arrested two Peruvian men (aged 22 and 26) who had developed an automated scheme to monopolize appointments at Extranjería y Asilo. Using a specialized bot and four mobile phones, the suspects made thousands of calls to the official hotline, overwhelming the system and capturing all available slots.
These captured appointments were resold to migrants for 50 euros each via bank transfers. During the raid, police seized the phones and a notebook containing personal data of dozens of foreigners — names, surnames, and documents required for applications. The suspects face charges of computer fraud (daños informáticos) and interference with public services.
"This is not an isolated case. Such schemes have been documented for years. In 2023, 69 people were arrested; in 2024, citizens from Argentina. The appointment system is vulnerable, and demand for slots is enormous," — police note.
The issue has reached an international level. On October 28, 2025, the Guatemalan Women's Association (AMG) presented a report titled "Sin citas no hay derechos: refugiadas contra la discriminación administrativa" (Without Appointments, There Are No Rights: Refugees Against Administrative Discrimination) at Spain’s Congress of Deputies. It highlights that lack of appointments constitutes systematic discrimination, especially affecting female refugees.
Women survivors of violence, single mothers, and refugees from Latin America (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba) often wait months — sometimes even a year — to access:
- 🏡 housing
- 🏥 medical care
- 🛡️ social protection
- 🪪 asylum applications or status renewals
As a result, they face heightened risks: exploitation, violence, human trafficking, eviction, deportation. The report includes eight personal testimonies, including that of María Gallego from Guatemala, who endured hunger and worked illegally during the pandemic.
AMG accuses Spain of violating international obligations — including the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Istanbul Convention — and demands:
- 🔧 immediate reform of the appointment system
- ♀️ implementation of gender-sensitive and intercultural approaches
- ⚖️ equal access to rights
"Without an appointment, there are no rights. This is not a technical issue. It is administrative discrimination destroying lives," — states AMG.
Both incidents — the fraud case and the report — reflect the same systemic illness: an overloaded, vulnerable, and opaque appointment system that jeopardizes the rights of thousands of migrants and refugees in Spain.
Sources:
• Policía Nacional de España (policia.es)
• eldiario.es, EL PAÍS, El Mundo, La Vanguardia (October 28 – November 5, 2025)
• AMG Report: mujeresdeguatemala.org