The government’s proposal received support from the PSD, CDS/PP, Chega, and Iniciativa Liberal, an abstention from the PCP, PS, and JPP, and was opposed by the Bloco de Esquerda, Livre, and PAN.
The government’s proposal to establish the National Foreigners and Borders Unit within the PSP will now be debated in the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees, following the rejection of a similar bill by PS and Chega in the last legislature.
Chega’s proposed law, which also establishes the same unit within the PSP, was approved with the backing of PSD, CDS/PP, and Chega.
Chega’s project, which is to be further reviewed by the specialty committee, faced opposition from BE, PCP, Livre, PAN, and PS, with abstentions from IL and JPP.
The government continues to support the measure, aiming to place a dedicated unit within the PSP after the disbandment of the Foreigners and Borders Service in 2023. Its roles were distributed among PSP, GNR, PJ, and the newly formed Integration, Migrations, and Asylum Agency (AIMA).
AIMA was put in charge of the return system, which the government claims fails to enforce deportation orders for immigrants.
The government outlines this new unit as a “border police” tasked with controlling entry, monitoring immigrants nationwide, and removing those who violate regulations.
UNEF is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and controlling airport borders and overseeing foreign citizens within national territory under PSP jurisdiction, as stated in the draft.
The government also intends for the new unit to handle “coercive removal, expulsion, readmission, and voluntary return processes” for foreign citizens, implement technical regulations for standardized procedures, and initiate “infraction proceedings” related to the legal framework of entry, residence, departure, and removal of foreigners.
In its proposal to create a National Foreigners and Borders Police Unit within the Public Security Police, Chega addresses government accusations for its rejection and asserts the need for such a structure is “evident” during a period when many hesitate to assert that the Portuguese state should ensure border policing and people control.
The primary distinction in Chega’s proposal compared to the government’s is the authority granted to the national PSP director to make “coercive removal” decisions, removing this power from AIMA.
