Foreigners make up almost ten percent of the population, but they hardly vote. The lack of participation of immigrants in electoral processes is contributing to the growth of populist anti-immigration discourses in Portugal.
The PS will discuss proposals in parliament this Thursday to "accelerate and create additional channels" to regularize immigrants, expecting the Government to be open and have a "constructive spirit" to prevent people from being left in limbo or in an illegal situation.
At a hearing in the Assembly of the Republic, Luís Neves said that violent crime is lower among immigrants than among nationals. He attacked the fake news that they try to create panic in Portugal.
A video went viral when he released the information that the PSP joined AIMA to do inspection actions to immigrants, and deport those who are illegal. But it's not true.
At a time when the number of immigrants in Portugal and throughout Europe is growing, the problems with the regularization of those who arrive in the country and also the misinformation about this situation are increasing.
The Migration Technicians Union (STM) expressed concern on Monday about the lack of human resources at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) and warned of the “lack of a consistent immigration policy”.
“It should be noted that, unquestionably, all matters related to AIMA employees have a direct impact on the service, reception and integration of foreign citizens who seek us out,” said the STM, in a statement.
Company specialized in immigration confirms the flood of accumulated processes in the Central Records of Portugal
More than 1,700 immigrants await the result of applications for Portuguese citizenship made by the company specialized in immigration Citizenship4U.
The total represents an increase of more than 250% in a year. In January 2024, the company was responsible for 482 citizenship processes filed in Portugal.
This movement is verified in other companies specialized and directly in the Central Registry Office, which concentrates the processes.
This calculation includes 440,000 immigrants who are in the service phase, 220,000 CPLP citizens and 50,000 investors who have resorted to the Gold Visas. Promise is to zero pending until June 30.
Last year, almost 2,300 asylum requests were registered in Portugal, which represents a reduction of 13% compared to 2023.
According to the newspaper Público , which cites data from the Portuguese Council for Refugees, the decline was related to the routes of migratory flows and international crises.
In 2024 there were applicants of 78 nationalities, from countries such as Afghanistan, Venezuela or Senegal.
Portugal is one of the few countries in Western Europe that considers immigration, including the entry of foreign workers into the country, as something positive. This is the opinion of 39% of Portuguese people, according to the most recent global survey by the Gallup International Association (GIA), carried out by Intercampus at a national level.
In total, of the 446 thousand pending processes, around 10 thousand residence permit cards have already been issued, after the investigation was completed.
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) will notify 76,000 immigrants in the coming days that their requests for regularization have been rejected, in a first package of notifications of this type, the president of the institution announced today.
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