The PSP arrested nearly 700 people at Portuguese airports since the abolition of SEF, which occurred in October 2022. The transfer of responsibilities from the former SEF to the PSP, PSP and the Service for Foreigners and Asylum resulted in the need for reorganization of border control services.
Of these nearly 700 arrested, more than 400 passengers were detained for presenting false documentation or for being subject to national or international arrest warrants. These numbers demonstrate the migratory control activity carried out by the PSP at the entry and exit points of the country.
The abolition of SEF was controversial and generated debate about the adequacy of border control mechanisms in Portugal. The integration of these functions into the PSP represented a significant change in the state structure responsible for surveillance and management of migratory flows.
