The Portuguese government announced its intention to deport 18,000 foreigners who are in the country without proper legal grounds. About this informs Euronews.
Minister Antonio Leitau Amaru noted that next week the authorities will ask approximately 4,500 migrants to leave Portugal voluntarily within 20 days. Amaru previously emphasized the need to review the current system of deportations, stressing that Portugal is among the three EU countries with the lowest rates of enforcement of decisions on forced leaving the state.
The statement was made on the eve of early parliamentary elections, which are to be held on May 18. At the same time, Prime Minister Luiz Montenegro assured during the debate on May 4 that the strengthening of actions on illegal migration is not part of the election campaign.
Early elections were called in March after Montenegro’s government, formed by the Social Democratic Party, received a vote of no confidence in parliament and resigned. Before that, the prime minister was accused of a possible conflict of interest due to his ties to a consulting company linked to his family.
According to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), more than 1.5 million foreigners were living in Portugal by the second half of 2024.
