The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, spoke on migrants who arrived in the Algarve on a makeshift boat last Friday. Among those who disembarked in Vila do Bispo were seven minors, 25 men, and six women.
In Olhão, the minister highlighted the swift response from all authorities, including health officials and “courts that quickly decided and concluded the order for removal from national territory. That is what will happen.”
“At the moment, there is no asylum request, and there is no point in speculating about the issue and the destination,” he added when questioned about it.
“There was a detection, interception, and all individuals were identified by authorities,” he summarized, ensuring that these individuals were assisted first. “There were dehydrated people, there were minors. Some were referred to court,” he detailed.
When asked about the immediate fate of these migrants, Leitão Amaro responded that they would remain “under the custody of authorities” and “detained in a temporary installation center or equivalent” until they are removed from national territory.
The migrants ordered to leave will temporarily stay at the sports pavilion prepared by Civil Protection, while other solutions are found in temporary or equivalent centers.
Regarding how long this process might take, Leitão Amaro mentioned that he did not have an answer yet and recalled that the Government had previously requested parliament to “facilitate the return regime.”
“At the time, the majority of the opposition rejected this request,” he recalled, anticipating some delays but promised to “accelerate these procedures as quickly as possible, respecting rights and rules and the dignity of individuals while enforcing Portuguese laws.”
“There are still questions we don’t have answers to, such as the route”
When asked about how these migrants would return to their country of origin, presumably Morocco, Leitão Amaro explained that it would be done voluntarily, with international organizations such as Frontex or the International Organization for Migration. “There are costs. Forced returns cost even more, and these processes can take longer. We are trying to see if we can speed up the procedures as quickly as possible,” he noted.
Regarding the minors, Leitão Amaro stated that they had “special protection” and “are currently with the adult individuals.” When asked if these were their parents, the minister said: “We don’t know. Most of these individuals do not have documentation. Many speak French and are being assisted by interpreters. There are still answers we don’t have. We don’t have clarity on the route taken,” he affirmed.
31 People Ordered to Leave the Country, 7 Hospitalized
In statements to RTP, Major Ilídio Barreiros, from the Coastal and Border Control Unit of the GNR, stated that the on-duty judge from the Silves Court validated the 31 illegal immigration detentions and determined the individuals remain in a temporary installation center “until the coercive removal process or possibly a voluntary return process occurs.”
Regarding the other seven people who also traveled on the boat that landed at Boca do Rio beach, in Vila do Bispo, Ilídio Barreiros explained they have not yet been questioned by authorities because they are hospitalized or accompanying minors.
“We still have hospitalized migrants. We will identify them to formalize the detention process for illegal entry into national territory,” he stated, explaining that they will also appear in court within the legal deadline of 48 hours, but safeguarding their health is the priority.
The court decided today to place in a temporary installation center the migrants who landed in the Algarve last Friday until the return process to their country is completed, either voluntarily or coercively.
Lusa | 19:51 – 09/08/2025
The alert was raised by a local around 20:10 when the wooden boat approached the Portuguese coast near Praia da Boca do Rio.
According to the National Republican Guard (GNR), the vessel underwent a judicial inspection by the Criminal Investigation Nucleus of the Olhão Coastal Control Detachment and was later towed to Porto by the Maritime Patrol Section of the Sines Coastal Control Detachment.
This operation by the Faro Territorial Command also included reinforcement from other GNR units, notably the Beja Territorial Command and the Intervention Unit (UI). Alongside the GNR and INEM, Civil Protection operatives and Volunteer Firefighters from Vila do Bispo and Lagos were also present.
Furthermore, the operational coordination for directing the migrants was coordinated with the Internal Security System (SSI) / Border and Foreign Coordination Unit (UCFE), the Migration, Asylum Integration Agency, and the Public Security Police (PSP).
[Updated at 21:28]
