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Crisis in Portugal: government announces mandatory departure of thousands of immigrants and Brazilians may be affected by the measure
The Portuguese government has begun a rigorous notification process for some 18 immigrants whose residency applications have been denied. Among those affected are Brazilian citizens, although most cases involve South Asian nationals. Immigration authorities have set a 20-day deadline for immigrants to voluntarily leave the country. Otherwise, they may be forcibly deported.
Repression of applications rejected after AIMA analysis
The measure was confirmed by António Leitão Amaro, Minister of the Presidency of Portugal, during a public statement on Saturday (3). According to him, the immigrants in question had their regularization processes refused by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), an agency created to replace the former Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF). The refusals, according to the government, were based on legal criteria, including lack of proof of ties to the country, absence of mandatory documents and, in some cases, criminal records.
“Compliance with the law is an essential principle to ensure order and the proper functioning of the immigration system. Those who do not respond to the notification within the stipulated period may be forcibly removed,” said the minister.
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Brazilians monitored by diplomatic authorities
Although the exact number of Brazilians affected has not yet been officially released, the Embassy of Brazil in Lisbon is in direct contact with Portuguese authorities to monitor the situation. According to Itamaraty, the expectation is to obtain a more accurate survey in the coming days.
According to the Brazilian consul general in Lisbon, Alessandro Candeas, everything is being done to provide support to any compatriots who may be affected. The Brazilian ambassador to Portugal, Raimundo Carreiro, is also monitoring developments with the Portuguese government.
Although Brazilians make up the largest foreign community in Portugal — with more than 400 legal residents, according to the SEF — preliminary data indicate that they represent a small portion of the 18 cases. Two-thirds of the denied requests were from citizens from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, according to Minister Amaro.
Political context and accusations of opportunism
The decision comes at a delicate time for Portuguese politics. The announcement was made just before the official start of the campaign for early legislative elections, scheduled for May 18. The call for the polls came after the fall of the government led by Luís Montenegro, who lost parliamentary support due to a scandal involving a consulting firm owned by his family. The episode generated accusations of conflict of interest and culminated in the dissolution of the National Assembly by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
In light of this, immigrant rights organizations raised suspicions about the timing of the measure. House of Brazil in Lisbon (CBL), one of the oldest organizations dedicated to supporting foreigners in the country, publicly criticized the decision. In a statement signed by its president, Ana Paula Costa, the organization classified the government's action as a possible “smokescreen”.
“It is curious that an announcement of this magnitude should occur precisely when the government is at the center of an ethical crisis and about to face the electorate. The question remains whether immigration is once again being used as a scapegoat to divert attention from the real national problems,” says the note published on the entity’s social networks.
Overloaded system and accumulated delays
The tightening of immigration rules reflects a system in crisis. AIMA, which replaced SEF with the promise of modernization and streamlining, is currently facing a backlog of approximately 110 residency applications still pending analysis. The backlog has been drawing criticism from both social organizations and immigration law experts.
In addition, the Portuguese government has faced pressure from the European Union to strengthen border controls and improve the management of migration flows. In 2023, the bloc allocated more than 300 million euros in funds to help member countries strengthen the screening and monitoring of migrants.
The tolerance policy towards citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), of which Brazil is a member, is also being reviewed. Although Brazilians still have advantages in the legalization process, such as easier access to the CPLP residence visa, these conditions do not eliminate the obligation to meet the basic criteria required by local legislation.
What to expect in the coming months
Experts predict that new notifications will be issued over the coming months as AIMA continues to review the backlog of cases. The Portuguese government has promised to speed up the analysis, but it is unclear whether there will be any changes to reception or regularization policies.
Meanwhile, the immigrant community in the country — especially Brazilians — awaits clarification and, possibly, a more concrete position from the Brazilian government on possible diplomatic measures or legal assistance.
