Government approves new regime for removing illegal citizens in Portugal

Approved creation of the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders in the PSP and a new regime for the return and removal of citizens illegally staying in the country.

The government approved this Thursday the creation of a new unit within the Public Security Police (PSP) to handle foreign nationals and borders, as well as a new system to deal with the return and removal of immigrants in an illegal situation in the country.

According to the Minister of the Presidency, one of the major problems of the previous government was how the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) was shut down, leaving a gap in controlling illegal immigration and in enforcement activities. He explained that now, with this new PSP unit, the police will manage the control of air borders, conduct inspections together with the GNR, and take responsibility for the return and removal of people who are illegally in the country, something that previously was not working properly.

Furthermore, the government approved new rules for the return and removal of illegal immigrants, which are part of a proposed law on border control, to be sent to parliament.

This new unit within the PSP had already been announced in June, when the government unveiled the Action Plan for Migrations. After the SEF was closed last year, the PSP had already taken responsibility for controlling the entry and exit of people by air and for airport security.