Fixers Sevilla - Patched

Author: [Institutional Affiliation] Date: April 2026 Abstract This paper investigates the phenomenon of fixers (Spanish: gestores informales or enlaces ) in Seville, a mid-sized metropolitan hub in southern Spain. Drawing on ethnographic observation and semi-structured interviews conducted between 2023 and 2025, the study identifies three primary domains where fixers operate: bureaucratic navigation, real estate and construction regularization, and immigrant integration. The paper argues that fixers in Seville function as “shadow infrastructure”—filling gaps left by inefficient public administration, linguistic barriers, and rigid legal frameworks. While fixers provide essential services, they also perpetuate informality, inequality, and vulnerability for those who rely on them. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for formalizing aspects of fixer activity without criminalizing the underlying demand. 1. Introduction Seville, the capital of Andalusia, has experienced significant economic and demographic shifts over the past two decades: post-2008 financial crisis austerity, EU recovery funds, rising tourism, and a growing immigrant population (primarily from Morocco, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa). Within this landscape, a class of informal intermediaries—known locally as los que arreglan (“the ones who fix things”)—has emerged. These individuals are neither lawyers nor official gestorías (professional administrative agencies), yet they are paid to resolve everything from residency permits to eviction delays.