"That is the great challenge that Portugal faces: having the capacity for temporary accommodation," to "fulfil its obligations under the European Pact on Migration and Asylum" and to build "the basis of the entire return policy, of the entire Portuguese migration policy," João Ribeiro told journalists.

The goal is to “have humane accommodation capacity,” with resources for gender differentiation, legal and medical assistance, but currently “we have limited capacity and are looking for solutions to obtain the desired capacity as quickly as possible by the end of 2026, 2027.”

Currently, the Temporary Accommodation Centers (CIT) have a capacity for 80 people, and two new projects have been announced that will increase this capacity to three hundred beds.

New legislation

The new legislation increases the detention time for foreigners subject to expulsion proceedings from 60 days to a maximum of one and a half years, but new coercive measures are foreseen, such as open detention regime, surrender of travel documents, or payment of bail.

The goal is to "provide differentiated treatment for differentiated situations," seeking to separate the "most vulnerable people," such as children or "victims of human trafficking," and to promote "partnerships with other civil society entities," explained the deputy national director of the PSP (Public Security Police).

Currently, UNEF (National Unit for Border Protection) is using an application from AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Return), which originated from the former Foreigners and Borders Service, but the objective is to create its own means.

"The development of its own application for process management is scheduled for 2026, and we are establishing protocols with AIMA in terms of collaboration, to deepen the relationship" between the two entities, he added.

João Ribeiro said that the "law has several aspects" such as "procedural simplification," the end of initial notifications of voluntary abandonment, "greater procedural speed," and "greater involvement of judicial authorities in the process," considering that the implementation of these measures would be "a great step."

“Collaboration”

“A foreign citizen, even if in an irregular situation, is not a criminal, is not committing a crime,” said the head of UNEF, emphasizing that the organization, created in August, is also strengthening itself, promoting a “recruitment strategy” that “doesn’t only involve police officers” and includes “collaboration with civil society.”

At the meeting, the director of the UNEF’s Central Return and Readmission Unit, Paulo Ornelas Flor, stressed that the process “follows best practices” and has been enforcing expulsion procedures.

In total, since the end of SEF on October 29, 2023, the PSP has enforced 238 forced returns and 556 voluntary returns.

The government has put out for public consultation the changes to the legislation regulating the return of illegal foreigners.