Immigrants are being informed of administrative actions, according to Raimundo's statement.
In the midst of the political whirlwind, a fresh piece of news unfolds that mirrors the electoral trajectory. This news, allegedly part of the powers-that-be's agenda, is expected to surface more often, according to Paulo Raimundo. He voiced his thoughts to the press during a gathering with the CDU Youth at the Voz do Operário in Lisbon.
António Leitao Amaro, the Minister of the Presidency, affirmed today that next week, the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) will be sending out notifications to 4,574 foreign residents to voluntarily leave the country within 20 days. This group marks the initial receivers from a total of 18,000 rejections, as part of a broader plan to expel individuals residing in the country without permission.
Paulo Raimundo labels this move as a political stunt, claiming it allows the AD government to insert an issue into the electoral discourse ahead of an early general election scheduled for May 18, 2025. The sudden focus on immigration enforcement has been met with criticism, as Raimundo believes the government should prioritize combating human trafficking networks and regularizing foreign citizens, who he thinks stand to gain benefits for both the state and its citizens.
He questions the reasons behind the lack of regularization, highlighting it stems primarily from the shortage of resources at AIMA and that the country's biggest challenge isn't immigration but emigration. Before a crowd of more than a hundred young CDU members, Raimundo expressed concerns over youth pushing out of the country and emphasized the need for investments in housing, education, and precariousness-fighting measures to prevent the flight of young people.
For a deeper understanding, read about how immigration supports various sectors of society, and the potential consequences of its disappearance: Immigration "supports" sectors of society. Disappearance would be a "collapse"[4].
sources:[1] Political instability leads to early general election in Portugal: https://www.euractiv.com/section/portugal/news/political-instability-leads-to-early-general-election-in-portugal/[2] Golden Visa reforms in Portugal emphasize social investment routes: https://www.residencieresearch.com/european-passports-by-investment-news/golden-visa-reforms-in-portugal-emphasize-social-investment-routes/[3] Portugal's AIMA to launch voluntary departure campaign for foreign nationals: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/portugals-aima-launch-voluntary-departure-campaign-foreign-nationals-2022-02-25/[4] Immigration "supports" sectors of society. Disappearance would be "collapse": https://www.the Portugal news.pt/opinion/immmigration-supports-sectors-of-society-disappearance-would-be-collapse/[5] Portugal to digitize AIMA immigration application processes: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/portugal-digitize-aima-immigration-application-processes
- The government's decision to send notifications to 4,574 foreign residents to voluntarily leave the country has been labeled as a political stunt by Paulo Raimundo, who suggests it is being used to insert immigration enforcement into the electoral discourse before the scheduled general election.
- Raimundo believes the government should prioritize combating human trafficking networks and regularizing foreign citizens, rather than focusing on expulsion, as he thinks this would bring benefits to both the state and its citizens.
- Raimundo also expressed concerns about youth emigration, emphasizing the need for investments in housing, education, and precariousness-fighting measures to prevent the flight of young people.
- According to a statement, immigration supports various sectors of society, and its disappearance could lead to a collapse in those industries.
