A Peruvian couple residing in Fuerteventura, Spain, has recently celebrated a significant legal victory after successfully obtaining Spanish nationality for their son, Jesus, who has a 71% intellectual disability. This milestone was achieved without the requirement for him to take the standard examination on political and cultural knowledge that is usually mandatory for applicants seeking Spanish nationality.
In a heartwarming ceremony at a notary in Puerto del Rosario, 35-year-old Jesus joyfully swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution. Accompanied by his parents, Jesus and Nancy, who emigrated from Lima to Spain over twenty years ago, this moment marked a triumph over various obstacles they had faced as a family.
Jesus, who suffered from meningitis as a child leading to physical and mental challenges, arrived in Fuerteventura on December 6, 2014. His mother, Nancy, has expressed her relentless determination to secure Spanish nationality for her son. "Bringing him was already a great battle," she told EFE a year prior to the ceremony.
Initially, Nancy traveled alone with her younger son, César, while struggling to gather the necessary resources to reunite the entire family. Over time, however, she built a life in Spain, obtaining a work contract, residence permit, and eventually her own Spanish nationality.
When the family applied for Spanish nationality for Jesus, they encountered a significant hurdle. In March 2024, the Ministry of Justice denied the request for exemption from taking the exam, despite Jesus's disability. The examination includes 25 questions designed to evaluate knowledge of Spain's political and cultural landscape. Nancy recounted the nature of the questions, such as, "How many provinces does Spain have?" and "Who composed 'El amor brujo'?" highlighting their inaccessible nature for someone with intellectual disabilities.
To combat this challenge, Nancy sought assistance from the association Entre Mares. María Greco, a technician at the Migrant Care and Information Service of Fuerteventura, explained how after denying Jesus an exemption from the exam, the association suggested that adapted tests might be available, albeit the law did not account for intellectual disabilities.
By filing a complaint to the Defender of the People, Entre Mares elevated the issue, leading to a positive turn of events. Jesus was ultimately exonerated from the exam requirements, although the processing of his nationality application continued.
On February 13, 2025, Nancy celebrated when she learned that Jesus had been granted Spanish nationality by residence. A month later, at the notary's office, he swore loyalty to Spain in a ceremony filled with emotion. Nancy recounted how she woke up that morning with immense joy, preparing Jesus’s favorite dish, arroz con pollo y papas a la huancaína, a traditional Peruvian meal.
Reflecting on the arduous journey, Nancy admitted, "I felt nervous and worried. I had lost hope because I thought it wouldn’t be achieved after making several appeals and seeing no response.” Her worries centered on the uncertainty of what would happen should anything happen to her and her husband, leaving Jesus without protection.
Following the granting of nationality, Nancy expressed relief, stating, "Now, his situation will change because we can handle all the necessary procedures to guarantee his protection." Jesus is currently employed at the Complejo Ambiental de Zurita in Fuerteventura, where he has been working since 2018 through the Adisfuer association.
"For me, it is a dream come true; I feel happy and content," Jesus shared, reminiscing over the many challenges he had to overcome to reach this significant moment. "I want to be Majorero for life," he added, expressing his deep-rooted commitment to his new identity and the community.
This legal victory not only affirms Jesus’s identity but also paves the way for improved legal recognition and social inclusion for individuals facing similar challenges in the realm of disability. The journey of Jesus and his family reflects the importance of perseverance and the fight for rights in the face of bureaucratic barriers.
