“Police action must prioritize prevention. Portugal’s integration into the European space of free movement demands greater international cooperation and stricter border control mechanisms. Portugal will continue to be an open, plural, and welcoming country, but it will do so with clear rules respecting national sovereignty and international commitments,” stated Maria Lúcia Amaral during the ceremony marking the 158th anniversary of the Public Security Police.
In this context, the official remarked in her speech that “the creation of the National Foreigners and Borders Unit of the PSP signifies a decisive milestone in migration, asylum, and return policy towards a more serious, humane, and effective policy.”
The Government’s proposal for establishing the new unit, nicknamed ‘mini-SEF,’ is set for discussion on Friday in the Assembly of the Republic, following a previous rejection of a similar bill by both the PS and Chega in the last legislature.
In addition to the Government’s proposal, a bill from Chega will also be discussed, which similarly seeks to create the National Police Unit of Foreigners and Borders of the PSP.
In statements to journalists, the minister emphasized that “the unit does not yet exist and currently corresponds to a draft law presented to the Assembly of the Republic,” noting that there are also bills from other parties and it will involve “further parliamentary discussion.”
Regarding the lack of resources for the PSP to operate this unit, Maria Lúcia Amaral noted that operational questions, resources, personnel, and logistics can only be addressed “once a fixed text is approved and promulgated, defining decisively the competencies assigned to this unit.”
The Government is steadfast in its measure, reintroducing a specific unit within the PSP following the dissolution of the Immigration and Borders Service in 2023, with its functions being distributed among the PSP, GNR, PJ, and the then newly created Agency for Integration, Migrations, and Asylum (AIMA), which was made responsible for returns—a system the Government claims is ineffective and fails to enforce deportation orders of immigrants.
According to the Government, this new unit will act as a “border police” to control entry points, oversee immigrants across the country, and remove “those who do not comply with the rules.”
In her address, the Minister of Internal Administration also stated the Government’s objectives to bring the PSP closer to citizens, particularly by deploying more officers on the streets and enhancing police stations, along with strengthening operational capacity.
The minister also handed over 21 vehicles to the PSP today, from a total of 51, intended for patrolling and road safety, with a value of 1.9 million euros.
