The Portuguese Government has announced the construction of two new temporary immigrant centers in the Metropolitan Areas of Porto and Lisbon, with a combined capacity to accommodate 300 people. Additionally, mobile camps for another 300 people will be established across the country.
This announcement was made by João Ribeiro, the deputy national director of the National Unit of Foreigners and Border Airports (UNEF), whose work began on Thursday.
In an interview, Ribeiro disclosed that currently, all temporary installation centers in the country, with gender-separated accommodations and considerations for families and minors, can house only 90 people.
“The current capacity is limited, prompting the political decision to construct two new temporary installation centers, one in the Northern Metropolitan Area and another in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, with a combined capacity of 300 people,” stated João Ribeiro.
The new centers will receive funding from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and, according to Ribeiro, “must be completed by August 2026.”
The National Unit of Foreigners and Borders (UNEF) of the PSP, known as ‘mini SEF’, goes into effect on Thursday with 1,200 officers ready for border control at airports.
Mobile “container” camps for 300 people to be created
However, the government’s investment does not stop there.
Ribeiro revealed that in the country’s near future is “the capability to quickly set up a camp in case of an abnormal pressure situation at the border.”
This initiative is part of the implementation of the European Pact for Migration and Asylum and intends for these camps, agreed upon by PSP and GNR, to have the capacity for another 300 people.
“In our case, the project is fundamentally based on some models used, mainly by the United Nations, utilizing pre-defined containers that provide accommodation, sanitary facilities, medical facilities, and all other necessary amenities for this purpose,” he explained.
The camps, composed of these containers, will be mobile and can therefore be disassembled and assembled “where necessary,” added João Ribeiro, indicating readiness for border pressure situations with irregular individuals.
This project is expected to take longer to implement than the temporary installation centers, as the tenders are anticipated nearly a year from now, “by June or May 2026.”
However, once operational, the goal is for them to be quickly assembled to provide rapid accommodation wherever needed.
“Once all materials comprising the camp are available, including different containers and service modules, it can be set up quickly in any location, in hours or very few days, depending on the need,” Ribeiro affirmed.
Irregular immigrants returning voluntarily receive a “check” of 2,500 euros
The new migration entity will inherit about 40,000 cases of irregular situations within Portugal.
João Ribeiro explained that in these cases, Portugal collaborates with Frontex and other entities to allow irregular immigrants to return to their countries with financial support. “This is to enable them to start a business or any other activity” upon their return.
This assistance is essentially a check delivered upon reaching their destination, valued at 2,500 euros, currently in force within the European Union, with the return trip also covered.
“It is the primary focus because, practically, it is the most humanistically charismatic option, encouraging voluntary return,” explained Ribeiro.
Of the 40,000 identified irregular individuals notified in June, Ribeiro reports that “60 to 70 people have already accepted the voluntary return mechanism.”
For those who declined, the authorities are working to bring them before a judge to validate detention and initiate the coercive removal process.
