The head of the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF) of the Public Security Police, Chief Superintendent João Ribeiro, rejected accusations from immigrant associations that point to a "hunt" for illegal immigrants. In an interview with the Portuguese news agency, Ribeiro stated that UNEF makes "an intelligent approach" by acting in places where risk factors exist, refusing comparisons with practices from other countries.
João Ribeiro explained that UNEF knows the risk factors and that metropolitan areas are considered high risk for citizens in irregular situations. The official highlighted that many of these immigrants entered Portugal years ago and never processed their regularization, and the unit's focus is "highly directed" toward these situations, with the objective of removal from the national territory.
The Deputy National Director of the PSP estimated that several people who were notified to leave due to irregular status continue to reside in Portugal. According to the data presented, AIMA and the mission structure issued more than 80,000 voluntary departure notifications, covering people who never applied for residence authorization or whose decision from the administrative authorities was negative. Ribeiro also stated that migratory pressure on Portugal has been "slightly reducing."
During the first year of UNEF's activity, completed on August 21, the unit controlled approximately 19.7 million citizens at airports and made 428 arrests for document fraud. Within the scope of inspection of immigrant stay in the country, it carried out 5,397 actions and inspected 52,421 foreign citizens, resulting in 831 notifications for voluntary departure and 285 arrests for irregular stay. The PSP took control of air borders after the end of SEF in 2023, and Ribeiro highlighted that a new challenge arises with the new return and asylum law that came into effect.
