Martin Sellner Plans Mass Deportation Hub in Spain

Sellner Aims to Open Remigration Center in Spain

How many millions must be expelled from Europe to make the numbers work? Austrian Martin Sellner, 37, has an answer: many, many millions. He wants to set up the headquarters of his Institute for Remigration in Spain. El País reported this in a November 6, 2026 interview, where the far-right ideologue explained that his think tank will soon operate in the country to promote the mass expulsion of foreigners, particularly Africans and Latin Americans.

The news has come as a shock to some and an electoral promise to others. Sellner does not hide his cards: he expects a future PP-Vox government to be "more advanced" regarding remigration. This is not a far-fetched idea; Santiago Abascal's party has already included the concept in its platform. "Remigration, deregulation, and national priority will be Vox's pillars for November 29," the party stated on October 11. The Austrian confirms contacts with Vox and cites MP Rocío de Meer, who participated in May in the Oporto Remigration Summit.

What is Remigration and Why Does it Sound Like Ethnic Cleansing?

Sellner's plan is not just about deporting undocumented individuals. His scheme includes revoking citizenship for millions of naturalized citizens and returning them to their countries of origin if they fail to demonstrate assimilation. In his book *Remigration: A Proposal*, he suggests expelling seven million foreigners from Germany over 15 years and several million Germans with international roots over three decades. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described remigration last September as "synonymous with ethnic cleansing." Sellner denies this: "Talking about ethnic cleansing is very serious and should not be taken lightly," he says, insisting his idea has nothing to do with arbitrarily killing people.

The institute he leads already has a base in Austria and peine its first European branch in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt in summer, shortly before the AfD swept the September elections. Die Linke, SPD, and the Greens have called for its ban in Germany. "There is sufficient evidence that Sellner's inhuman remigration proposals attack the very pillars of our democracy," said Marcel Emmerich, the Green Party's interior spokesperson.

The Map of the Reconquista and Interest in Spain

His interest in Spain is evident in a detail from his office: a map of the Iberian Peninsula hangs on one wall, illustrating the stages of the Reconquista up to the 15th century. Sellner is drafting a document on the migration crisis with specific proposals for Spain, including figures on people to be expelled. The main group affected would be those from across the African continent, though the Latin American community is also targeted. The report is being prepared by Spanish collaborators whose identities he refuses to reveal.

The Ceuta crisis remains prominent in his narrative. "When I was in Málaga, I saw flags of Ceuta everywhere, on Malaga residents' balconies," he recounts. His hope is that a next right-wing government in Spain could be more advanced on remigration. He adds: "The situation is unique in Spain because there is currently a left-wing government amidst a pan-European awakening on remigration."

The Economic Debate: Who Pays and Who Works?

Behind the plan lies an economic discussion that is not new. Some argue that mass expulsion would free up saturated public services and reduce welfare spending. Others counter that many sectors depend on foreign labor and production costs would rise without it. The debate mentions Almería's greenhouses, asking who would fill those jobs if migrant workers left. The response from some quarters is that wages would need to rise to attract local labor. It is the old dispute between net fiscal effect and labor cost.

Sellner himself speaks of "national priority" and "deregulation," but does not specify the economic cost of his plan. His institute is funded by donations and has not detailed the budget for the Spanish headquarters. Meanwhile, the German government has labeled remigration ethnic cleansing, and left-wing parties are calling for the center's ban. In Spain, Vox has championed the concept but has not presented a formal proposal for mass deportation. For now, everything remains in the realm of ideas and headlines.

The Overton Window and Pull Effect

The conversation on remigration is not isolated. In Germany, the AfD has high chances of governing Saxony-Anhalt, and in France, Le Pen remains a real option. Some analyses suggest that if these parties reach power, the Overton window will shift, and what sounds like utopia today could become a legal option. Others believe the EU is a difficult dam to move and that without a European-level decision, it will all be wishful thinking. The European Commission has not commented on Sellner's plan.

Meanwhile, the Austrian continues his particular crusade. His institute prepares for its landing in Spain, and he already has a map on the wall. The Reconquista, in its migratory version, begins in Málaga. Or so he believes.