“This law does not serve the country, economic development, nor the respect for human rights of immigrants,” stated Timóteo Macedo to Lusa.
“These amendments to the law, for now, maintain unconstitutionality,” and as provided in the decree, “this model of family reunification is not what we desire for this country,” said Timóteo Macedo to Lusa.
The leader argued that the right to reunification should encompass all close relatives, not just descendants or spouses.
The minimum residency period of two years, with possible reductions in the cases of spouses with proven relationships or descendants, are “punishment periods, torture, and policies heavily influenced by dictatorial policies that do not respect human dignity,” Timóteo Macedo added.
Furthermore, the fact that the law maintains exceptions for those with investment permits (golden visas) creates “several tiers” among immigrants.
“This change to the law created a big gap,” and “the Portuguese government is increasing divisions among first, second, and third-tier migrants.”
This law creates “class division, meaning wealthy migrants receive all the benefits, while migrants who work and produce wealth for the society’s well-being, the poor, are disadvantaged,” he added.
“The hunt for immigrants targets the poorest who are working and have committed no crime,” yet “they continue to be attacked by the authorities,” emphasized Timóteo Macedo.
The Assembly of the Republic today approved the new version of the foreigners’ law with favorable votes from PSD, CDS-PP, Chega, IL, and JPP, and opposing votes from PS, Livre, PCP, BE, and PAN.
The new version of the decree approving the legal regime for entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreigners from national territory, which had been rejected by the Constitutional Court last August, was approved in the final global vote after all amendments proposed by the parties were voted on in detail.
In the detailed vote, all amendments proposed by the coalition supporting the government (PSD and CDS-PP) were approved, except those withdrawn, as well as a proposal by PS and three by Chega.
In today’s detailed voting on the decree approving the legal regime for entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreigners from national territory, PSD and CDS-PP opted to withdraw a proposal regarding the conditions for renewing a residence permit within the family reunification context, to approve Chega’s proposal in the same context.
Chega’s proposal suggests that the evaluation of residence permit renewal should not count social support, an aspect not included in the proposal presented by PSD and CDS, although it is mentioned in the previous point of the decree, proposed by the two governing parties, that state support should not be considered in calculating a family’s means of subsistence.
PSD and CDS-PP also withdrew from voting on proposals regarding the length of valid residency period required to request family reunification in cases where spouses have lived with the family reunification applicant in the year prior to immigrating to Portugal, to approve Chega’s proposal, which alters the deadlines.
From PS, the two governing parties allowed the viability of only one proposed amendment, related to bilateral agreements with third countries to streamline visa and residence permit procedures.
Besides PSD, CDS-PP, Chega, and PS, Livre and JPP also submitted amendment proposals, none of which were approved in parliament.
