Government: Deportation news in Portugal

Immigration: Government aligns with Chega and leaves the PS with room to manoeuvre

Portuguese national detained by ICE to be deported within days

The Portuguese national who was detained a month ago by US immigration police is set to be deported.

Portuguese man detained for a month in an ICE detention centre to be deported to Lisbon soon

A Portuguese citizen who has been held for a month in a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centre will soon be deported to Lisbon. The news was reported by SIC, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry, led by Paulo Rangel, stated that the deportation process is underway, with a flight to Lisbon scheduled for early next month, and confirmed it has been in contact with US authorities via the Consulate-General in San Francisco. Hugo Sousa has been in a detention centre in Tacoma, Washington, for a month. The reasons for his detention remain unknown. The Portuguese citizen was reportedly using a temporary travel authorisation to enter the United States, where he has lived for years, having attempted to enter via the Canadian border. Hugo Freitas de Sousa, born 39 years ago on Terceira Island, spent four days on a hunger strike but has decided to end the protest.

Court unanimously declares that the Return Law is 'not unconstitutional'

The Constitutional Court decided there is no unconstitutionality in the Return Law. The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, had requested an assessment of the decree in July due to doubts regarding its incompatibility with the Constitution.

10 PM. Return Law. PCP says President's decision is "no surprise"

The President of the Republic has requested that the Constitutional Court conduct a preventive review of the Return Law. Additionally, Trump says he will take the White House ballroom case to the Supreme Court.

More than 20 Portuguese citizens requested asylum in the United Kingdom in 2025

The United States leads the list with 156 requests. Among the applicants are citizens subject to deportation orders, who use asylum requests to delay their expulsion from the country.

Immigration: Return law discussed in parliament today

The Government intends to extend the detention period for foreigners in temporary holding centres and equivalent facilities for the purpose of deportation from the current 60 days to 180 days.

Proposed amendments to the law regulating immigrant deportation rejected by judges

Opinion states that the Government's proposals “appear to affront” European directives and opposes the expulsion of minors under 18. Changes to be discussed in plenary on the 15th.

Six Madeirans forced to return to Portugal after committing crimes in France, the UK and the USA in 2025

In total, more than 300 Portuguese citizens were deported, according to the Annual Internal Security Report. The majority are men aged between 20 and 29.

RASI: 23,000 immigrants notified to leave the country in a single year, 252 were expelled (five times more than in 2023)

Portugal records a record increase in notifications to leave the country; the effective removal rate increased even before the new law. Immigration enforcement actions increased, but found little more than a thousand illegal residents in the national territory. Crimes committed by immigrants remain stable (and Hindustani individuals are not among those most identified).

“Return package”. Government maintains new rule facilitating the deportation of immigrants with minor children

The Government has kept the rule in the new version of the “return package” that facilitates the deportation of immigrants with minor children in national territory. The text specifies that the current protection against expulsion only applies if the child is a legal resident. The new wording of Article 135 of the law, concerning “limits to expulsion,” states that this applies to those who “have minor children, nationals of a third state, who are legal residents in Portuguese territory, for whom they effectively assume parental responsibilities and ensure their support and education.” The full text was released this Monday, March 30, following its submission to Parliament. Despite concerns raised by advisors and during public consultation regarding the protection of children, the executive has disregarded these inputs. Another change requires at least five years of residency in the country to benefit from this non-deportation rule, whereas currently, the length of residency is not a factor when minor children are involved.