Portugal orders tens of thousands of immigrants to depart under new rules
The Minister of the Presidency presented figures showing that more than 27,000 immigrants have been instructed to leave Portugal, while police expect over 1,000 additional expulsions by year-end.
During a session of Parliament, the Minister of the Presidency revealed that authorities have instructed over 27,000 immigrants to leave Portugal. The Public Security Police (PSP) projects that it will need to compel more than 1,000 additional individuals to depart by the end of the year, even though about 25,000 voluntary departure notifications remain unfulfilled. The PSP notes that the gap between notifications and actual exits may stem from departures that have not been logged and from cases halted by legal appeals, including interim injunctions.
Even after appeals are resolved, obtaining required documents from the migrants' home countries can be challenging. Recent legal changes abolish the assisted voluntary departure system, turning departure into a mandatory requirement. Non-compliance can lead to police detention and forced removal procedures.
Why it matters
The policy shift could affect tens of thousands of residents and raises concerns about immigration enforcement and legal due process in Portugal.
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