Immigrant family reunification suspension proposed by Chega
New Announcement Stirs Immigration Debate
André Ventura, in a recent statement, declared his intent to petition the Government for a temporary halt on family reunification, a practice permitted under Portuguese law for individuals with legal residence. This proposed suspension comes amidst growing concerns about the potential influx of immigrants in the coming months.
In response to questions about the humanistic implications of legal residents bringing their families, Ventura suggested this issue should have been addressed earlier. He warned that an increase in residents from one and a half million to two million in a short span could prove unsustainable.
Ventura maintains that the proposed suspension is not a humanistic issue or an act of punishment, but a measure to prevent Portugal from becoming an immigration magnet, criticizing the government's handling of the situation. The duration of this suspension, according to Ventura, would continue until the country's immigration status is resolved.
The country currently faces a backlog of unresolved immigration cases and promises of expulsion for those previously identified. These ongoing issues, coupled with the proposed suspension, provoke the question of whether more immigrants should be allowed in at this time.
When asked if the suspension request extends to those entering under refugee status, such as Ukrainian refugees, Ventura differentiated between those fleeing visible, notorious, and understandable conflicts and other immigrants.
He argues that, for now, no one should be granted family reunification until half a million residents' immigration status is regularized. This stance, Ventura believes, is a logical response to the current immigration crisis.
Last week, the Integration, Migration, and Asylum Agency (AIMA) raised concerns about a potential rise in foreigners due to family reunification requests. The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, vowed a measured approach.
While the pending applications for expressions of interest have seen a reduction in numbers due to a lack of response and rejections, those with approved applications retain their right to request family reunification.
Despite the proposed suspension, government sources suggest family reunification will be limited by the capacity of Portuguese society to integrate immigrants, rather than targeted directly. No official policy at this time proposes a ban on family reunification due to immigration concerns. Instead, efforts focus on improving processing efficiency and addressing administrative bottlenecks to return to regular processing times within the year.
Ventura's proposed suspension on family reunification for legal residents aims to prevent Portugal from becoming an immigration magnet, and he argues for this restriction until half a million residents' immigration status is regularized. The government, however, suggests any limitations on family reunification will be made based on Portuguese society's capacity to integrate immigrants, without directly targeting it, and they are focusing on improving processing efficiency to address administrative bottlenecks.
