Portuguese President Calls for Immediate Halt to Immigration 'Snowball' to Address Backlog

Portugal is facing an urgent immigration crisis, with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa calling for an immediate halt to the 'snowball' effect of incoming migrants. This move aims to address the backlog of approximately 400,000 pending residence permit cases in Lisbon.

In an official note published on the Presidency of the Republic's website, the President emphasized the 'urgent need to regularize many thousands of pending residence permit cases.' The government has introduced a decree that ends the exceptional rules allowing foreigners to enter Portugal and apply for residence permits after arrival.

Why this matters: The Portuguese President's call to halt immigration has significant implications for the country's economy and social fabric. If not managed effectively, it could lead to increased tensions and potential humanitarian crises.

The new rules stipulate that foreigners must have an employment contract or another solution previously dealt with by the Portuguese consular network to apply for residence permits. This change aims to prevent overloading the regularization processes with new expressions of interest.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has also rejected any link between immigrants and an increase in crime but acknowledged that the previous legislation had allowed for abuses in entry. The government has created a mission structure to address the backlog and improve the efficiency of the immigration process.

The Action Plan for Migration, approved by the Council of Ministers, includes the creation of a new procedure for foreigners to apply for residence permits. This plan aims to streamline and prioritize channels for immigrants, including family reunification, young students, qualified professionals, and nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries.

The revocation of the 'manifestation of interest' mechanism, which allowed non-EU migrants to move to Portugal and request residency after a year of social security payments, is a significant change. Critics argue that this could lead to problems for those arriving without a work visa, potentially leaving them in an 'inhumane situation with no way out.'

The government plans to handle the 400,000 pending regularization processes by hiring more staff and creating a special task force. This initiative aims to provide a more regulated and supervised approach to immigration, addressing the challenges faced by the current system.

The new immigration rules reflect a broader trend in Europe, where governments are tightening immigration policies to fend off the rise of far-right parties. In Portugal, the right-leaning government has also scrapped parts of the golden visa program and announced the end of the non-habitual residency tax scheme.

Despite the changes, Portugal continues to recognize the importance of immigration to its economy. Migrants contribute significantly, with around 14% of taxpayers being immigrants, contributing €1.6 billion to the economy in 2022.

The new measures aim to balance the need for regulated immigration with the necessity of providing dignity and support to those seeking a better life in Portugal. The government's efforts to implement these changes prioritize creating a fairer and more prosperous society.

Key Takeaways

• Portugal faces an immigration crisis with 400,000 pending residence permit cases.
• President calls for halt to "snowball" effect of incoming migrants to address backlog.
• New rules require foreigners to have employment contract or prior approval to apply.
• Government aims to streamline immigration process and prioritize certain groups.
• Changes aim to balance regulated immigration with dignity and support for migrants.