Portugal's President Reiterates Call to Combat Illegal Immigration; Decree Under Constitutional Review

Portuguese President Addresses Immigration, Decree Sent to Constitutional Court

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has once again spoken about the necessity to "actively combat" illegal immigration. Concurrently, he chose not to comment on the decision to send a decree concerning the return of foreigners to the Constitutional Court for review.

For individuals who already hold legal residency permits or are awaiting decisions from AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), this statement serves more as political background rather than an immediate instruction for action. Changes to immigration law and practice typically occur through parliamentary processes, government decisions, and court rulings, not through a single statement made during a briefing.

It is advisable to monitor the specific text of the decree and the eventual decision from the Constitutional Court, rather than relying solely on news headlines. Until new official norms are published in the Diário da República or by AIMA, current relocation plans for legal residents should not be altered based on a presidential quote.

• The President's repeated rhetoric does not equate to new procedures for legal residents.
• Regarding the decree on the return of foreigners, it is crucial to follow the case's progress in the Constitutional Court directly, rather than relying on summaries or interpretations.