With the abolition of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) in 2023, some of the former security force's responsibilities were transferred to the PSP. The removal, readmission, and return operations of individuals in an irregular situation, which had been assigned to the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), are now under the PSP's responsibility.

The goal, the PSP explained in a statement, is for the UNEF to operate "in the medium term" with approximately 2,000 personnel, including "police officers, specialised technicians, service providers, and volunteers from civil society and non-governmental organisations."

This increased workforce is a result not only of the newly assigned responsibilities but also of the implementation of the new entry and exit system, which will come into effect on October 12, 2025, and the implementation of the European Pact for Migration and Asylum starting next year.

In addition to removal and return operations, which were previously the responsibility of AIMA, air border surveillance, inspection, and control, which were already the responsibility of the PSP, will also be concentrated in the new unit, which will be led by the national director of this police force.

UNEF will also begin opening administrative offense proceedings under the legal framework governing the entry, stay, departure, and removal of foreigners from national territory.

The goal is to integrate the current airport security and border control divisions of the PSP, created following the dissolution of the SEF and located at the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, the Azores, and Madeira, into UNEF.

However, the transfer of the divisions to UNEF will be a "gradual and phased" process to ensure "coordination with existing PSP units," the PSP explained.

Paulo Santos, union leader of the Police Professionals' Union Association (ASPP), told Lusa about the ongoing problem in this police force related to a lack of personnel and admitted reservations regarding this new unit, noting "an increased burden on the police."

This new unit was the result of a government proposal, the project of which underwent some changes requested by Chega, which also attempted to change the unit's name, but without success.

The government's proposal was approved in the Assembly of the Republic in July, with votes in favour from the PSD, Chega, IL, and CDS, abstentions from the PS and JPP, and votes against from the remaining left-wing parties.