A group of neighbors in Badalona gathered on Sunday to prevent evicted immigrants from the B9 institute from spending the night at the Mare de Déu de Montserrat church. Mayor Xavier García Albiol intervened to ease the tension, and the individuals were relocated to other centers. The incident highlights rising social friction following the eviction of 400 people from Catalonia's largest immigrant settlement.
On Sunday, December 21, 2025, four days after the police intervention that ended the occupation of the former B9 institute in Badalona, a group of neighbors protested at the doors of the Mare de Déu de Montserrat church in the Sant Crist neighborhood. The center was intended to temporarily house about fifteen immigrants evicted from Catalonia's largest immigrant settlement, which held around 400 people.
The gathering, which exceeded a hundred participants at times, created an atmosphere of high tension. Neighbors voiced concerns about insecurity and demanded more institutional attention for local residents rather than 'those from outside.' Some claimed the immigrants would 'bring insecurity' and called for priorities for the community.
Around 9 p.m., Mayor Xavier García Albiol of the PP arrived at the scene to speak with the protesters and try to de-escalate the situation. He asked them to allow the immigrants access, promising to contact Social Rights Counselor Mònica Martínez Bravo first thing Monday morning to find an alternative. Ultimately, social entities including Cáritas and Creu Roja, backed by the Generalitat, relocated the individuals to other facilities to prevent them from spending the night outdoors.
Local police, including Mossos d'Esquadra and Badalona's Guardia Urbana, were deployed to the site. The crowd even blocked a Cruz Roja van carrying support materials. This episode underscores the ongoing social tensions following the eviction, with the Generalitat and entities organizing emergency accommodations for those affected.
