Lisbon has taken a hardline stance on immigration as the new government rolls back a controversial law that had thrown open the country’s doors to foreign workers under the previous administration.
Portugal’s doors have been flung wide open to foreigners, leading to a staggering surge in immigration, with the number of non-native residents swelling by a whopping 100% in just half a decade, largely driven by an influx of South Asian workers who’ve found opportunities in the country’s agricultural, fishing, and culinary sectors.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro vowed to crack down on rampant exploitation of Portugal’s open-armed policy, ushering in a “new era” of immigration reform aimed at curbing abuses and restoring balance.
The centre-right administration, inaugurated in March, has struck down a contentious provision that enabled immigrants to gain a foothold in the country by demonstrating a year’s worth of employment and social security contributions.
For over a decade, Portugal has maintained a lenient approach to immigration, offering residency permits to anyone who declares their income. In 2018, the socialist administration expanded this policy to include even those who entered the country without proper documentation.
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Montenegro said that while Portugal needed migrants to cope with its “demographic decline”, it was also necessary to “avoid the extremes”.
Portugal’s expat community has surged, ballooning to over a million individuals in just five years, according to provisional data from the Agency for Integration and Migration (Aima).
Government statistics reveal that a substantial 180,000 migrants successfully regularized their status in the country last year.
To put this number into perspective, it accounts for one-tenth of Portugal’s entire population.
Since its creation in 2023, the migration agency has grappled with the daunting challenges of inadequate staffing and a burdensome caseload, a direct result of the former border police’s disbandment.
The prime minister made a startling revelation on Monday, acknowledging that the newly formed migration agency was failing to deliver and would require a significant restructuring effort.