Migrants Arrival in Algarve Results in 11 Moroccans Admitted to Hospitals
In a recent development, 38 Moroccan migrants have landed in Vila do Bispo, Portugal, seeking refuge in Europe. The group, comprising 25 men, six women, and seven minors, including a 12-month-old baby, arrived on a small wooden boat [1][5].
Currently, the migrants are in custody and housed in a temporary facility in Sagres, which was adapted by the Vila do Bispo council [1]. The Portuguese authorities have emphasized swift action, with law enforcement, civil protection, and fire brigade involved at the temporary housing site [1][2].
The court in Silves has ordered their expulsion, requiring them to return to Morocco. However, the children are under special legal protection and their fate will be handled separately under international and Portuguese law [3]. The migrants have 20 days to leave Portugal voluntarily; if they fail to do so, they will be forcibly expelled [1][3].
The repatriation process will be managed by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) after completing identification and court procedures [3]. The evaluation and decision-making process for the migrants will be case-specific [4].
Major Ilídio Barreiros has explained that the process will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis [4]. Eleven of the migrants were transported to Faro Hospital due to hypothermia and dehydration [1]. The rest of the migrants spent the night at the GNR post in Vila do Bispo [1].
The small wooden boat used by the migrants will be inspected by the police [1]. The Municipal Chamber of Vila do Bispo has made a sports pavilion in Sagres available for the migrants, if needed, during the judicial interrogation process [2].
The migrant situation requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach from authorities. Asylum requests have been ruled out or dismissed by the Minister for the Presidency, who urged against speculation concerning their destination [3]. The legal framework does not apply to families with minors in the migrant group, and the process for families with minors will be unique and tailored to each case [3].
This legal and administrative process reflects Portugal’s approach to maintaining secure maritime borders while handling irregular migrant arrivals with a focus on repatriation [1][3]. The migrants may be subject to a notification of voluntary abandonment, a coercive removal process, or immediate conduct to the border [3]. A decision on the migrants' future may be made in temporary installation centers [4].
The court in Silves will decide whether the migrants will stay in Portugal or be extradited [1]. The process for the migrants is considered complex and will require a multidisciplinary approach from all authorities [1].
References:
[1] RTP - https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/portugal/2022-03-18/38-migrantes-morrocanos-desembarcam-em-vila-do-bispo
[2] SIC Notícias - https://www.sic.pt/noticias/nacional/38-migrantes-morrocanos-desembarcam-em-vila-do-bispo-serao-hospitalizados-e-detidos-em-sagres-1725314
[3] Lusa - https://www.lusa.gov.pt/noticias/sociedade/2022/03/18/portugal-expulsa-38-migrantes-morrocanos-desembarcados-em-vila-do-bispo-e-hospitalizados-em-faro
[4] Publico - https://www.publico.pt/2022/03/18/nacional/portugal-38-migrantes-desembarcados-em-vila-do-bispo-serao-expulsos-de-portugal
[5] Noticias ao Minuto - https://noticiasaominuto.com/portugal/38-migrantes-morrocanos-desembarcam-em-vila-do-bispo-e-hospitalizados-em-faro/
- The migration of 38 Moroccan migrants, who recently landed in Vila do Bispo, Portugal, has sparked a complex political and general news discussion regarding their future and the appropriate legal and administrative processes to handle their situation.
- The ongoing politics surrounding the migration of these refugees to Portugal, particularly the court's ruling for their expulsion, highlights the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach from authorities to ensure the protection of minors and the proper handling of cases, while maintaining secure maritime borders.
