“Integration begins with documentation,” explained Rui Armindo Freitas during an interview, marking the two-year anniversary of the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) on October 30, 2023. Freitas added, “We couldn’t integrate those in Portugal we didn’t even know were here. Now, we know who’s here, and we can design programs for them.”
Addressing criticisms that the ‘I’ for integration is scarcely promoted at AIMA, Freitas acknowledged that the priority has been regularizing pending cases. However, projects to integrate immigrants have received greater focus at the Ministry level, doubling the funds for immigrant support programs.
“In reality, much has been done,” Freitas stated, “but the objective is much greater, and we want to achieve much more.” He acknowledged the current environment, with anti-immigrant rhetoric in public discourse, as “challenging” for the government.
Nevertheless, he stated, “The context we inherited allowed such reactions to exist in Portuguese society,” due to the “irresponsible manner in which immigration was handled until 2024,” fostering “an environment of mutual distrust” among national citizens and immigrants alike.
Recent weeks have seen headlines about presidential candidate André Ventura’s posters targeting immigrants, and the official stressed that focus should be on integration projects despite the political climate.
“When we face such posters, it’s time to step forward and invest in integration for social cohesion,” without favoring “one culture over another,” but promoting “all the agents who are part of the Portuguese community and society at every moment,” he added.
