The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, announced during the Council of Ministers briefing that the government has approved a decree-law extending until April 2026 the involvement of Judicial Police inspectors, who were formerly part of the now-defunct SEF, in controlling airport borders.
After the dissolution of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) on October 29, 2023, inspectors were transferred to the Judicial Police, with 324 former SEF members temporarily assigned to the Public Security Police (PSP) for airport border control.
The previous arrangement mandated the gradual transfer of inspectors to the Judicial Police by October 29, 2025.
António Leitão Amaro explained that the extension of their involvement until April 2026 is necessary due to border control challenges, particularly at Lisbon and occasionally Faro airports.
The minister noted this extension arises from the manner of SEF’s termination and delays in establishing the PSP’s National Unit of Foreigners and Borders.
He emphasized additional factors such as the October 12 launch of the European border control system, which imposes stricter checks on passengers from outside the European area.
This system and the increase in non-Schengen passengers have led to “congestion at border controls, presenting challenges in recent weeks,” Amaro acknowledged, adding that the government has implemented contingency measures, including a reorganization of border management processes.
Leitão Amaro mentioned that “one legislative contingency measure is this extension of PJ employees’ assignments.”
Earlier this week, the Criminal Investigation Staff Union of the Judicial Police (SPIC-PJ) reported that PJ inspectors from the former SEF opposed being compelled to remain at airport borders past the initially projected date of October 29.
The union stated that inspectors had already been directed to report to their respective PJ units but were unexpectedly informed 11 days prior about the government’s new intention to prolong their airport duties by six months.
