“The problem of other countries is also Portugal’s problem, but we in Portugal, in addition to changing European rules, are committed to changing national law, and in the coming weeks the country will hear a proposal to revise the return regime,” announced the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro.
Speaking at the end of a meeting of Home Affairs Ministers in Luxembourg, the official pointed out that this is “a problem and a challenge that affects all Member States across Europe,” since “governments that encounter foreign citizens in an illegal situation have difficulty implementing returns, whether voluntary or forced, to their countries of origin.”
“Europe may have doors that are not all closed and through which people can enter, whether through asylum or economic immigration, as long as they comply with our rules. Those who fail to comply face consequences, and the consequences are deportation,” emphasised Antonio Leitão Amaro.
Currently, Portuguese law provides for the placement in temporary centres of those who entered the country illegally, but establishes a maximum detention period of 60 days.
After this period, if deportation cannot be completed, the State is obliged to release these individuals, even if the deportation process is still ongoing.
Portuguese authorities rejected the vast majority of requests, and almost all citizens were released because the legal detention period had expired.
European system
In March of this year, the European Commission proposed the creation of a common European system for the return of illegal migrants, suggesting repatriation to safe third countries and forced processing of those illegally staying in the EU.
This proposal is still under discussion, as it is estimated that only about 20% of third-country nationals forced to leave the EU actually do so, evading the authorities and returning to other EU countries.
Upon arriving at the meeting in Luxembourg, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner argued that the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) should have a “stronger role in border security,” including through drone operations (remotely piloted aircraft) to “improve return management.”
The European minister also called for action from EU countries under the new pact on migration and asylum, assuring that these initiatives are already leading to a decline in illegal crossings.
“We are at a turning point in migration and asylum policy, and we are already seeing the results of our common approach in the fight against illegal migration: border crossings decreased by 22% this year, after a 37% drop last year.”
The new European Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted in May 2024 and provides for the fight against illegal immigration and mandatory solidarity among member states through burden-sharing.
