Latest news and stories about migration policy in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
Marina Pereira Guimarães analyzes how the far-right exploits migration crises, such as the events in Ceuta, to push for restrictive policies and narratives of insecurity, framing the situation as a geopolitical challenge rather than just a migration issue.
The CPLP experience highlights a fundamental imbalance in mobility, as Portugal's open-door policy lacks reciprocal support from other member nations.
The Portuguese Assembly of the Republic is currently debating the government's proposed 'return law,' which seeks to streamline and accelerate the removal process for foreign nationals residing in the country without legal status.
An analytical look at the legal conflict between EU member states concerning the protection of individuals from persecution based on personal characteristics.
The European Parliament's recent approval of the European list of safe countries of origin and clarification of the 'safe third country' concept signifies a pivotal shift in EU migration policy. The reform aims to address the slow and inconsistent asylum system that has left many legitimate claimants in limbo while allowing unfounded claims to drain resources. By establishing clear and uniform rules, the reform seeks to restore legitimacy to the asylum process, ensuring that it remains a pillar of European values while effectively distinguishing between those in genuine need of protection and those seeking economic opportunities. This legislative change is seen as a necessary step to enhance the credibility of the EU and its commitment to humanitarian principles.
The great lesson of Ceuta is clear: Europe must decide, in a sovereign and democratic way, its own migration policy.
Helena Ferro Gouveia, a commentator for CNN Portugal, analyses the legal and political contours of the migration crisis that hit Ceuta on Thursday.
Henrique Gouveia e Melo, a commentator for CNN Portugal, questions whether there was “political exploitation” of the migration crisis that hit Ceuta on Thursday and stresses that “the question that must be asked is: how is there such a significant movement of 60,000 people who, suddenly, act on a given day in a specific way?”
It is not the first time Europe has suffered from this phenomenon, which this time may be more of a “geopolitical crisis” than a “migration crisis”
The Prime Minister admitted this afternoon that there are reasons to reinforce land and sea borders with Spain due to the ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta.
Over the last two weeks, the border between Morocco and Ceuta has been crossed by thousands of migrants who entered the country in the hope of receiving legal protection. 18 people have died.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy is prepared to take “extraordinary measures” to defend its borders.
Thousands of people of Maghrebi origin crossed the border between Morocco and Ceuta this Thursday, in the largest migration crisis in the Spanish autonomous city since 2021. According to the president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, more than 20,000 migrants are estimated to have entered the territory on this day alone, adding to the approximately 1,500 to 2,000 who had already crossed.
The Azores highlight their long-standing relationship with emigrant communities and are moving forward with a study to assess the impact on the region's development, which has an emigrant population of approximately 4%.
The Pope pressured Europe to do more to protect and integrate migrants. Leo XIV was on the Italian island of Lampedusa, an important landing port for those who risk their lives trying to reach European soil.
The article discusses a controversial meeting in Brussels between European Commission representatives and an Afghan government delegation regarding the deportation of Afghan refugees. The author argues that engaging with the Taliban regime, which is accused of gender apartheid and severe human rights abuses, contradicts the EU's foundational values. Additionally, the author includes a note criticizing the current chaos surrounding national exams in Portugal, attributing it to the systematic dismantling of the Ministry of Education's services.
André Costa Jorge discusses the necessity of choosing between fraternity and fear regarding migration policies in Portugal.
The United Nations deeply regretted today the European Union's (EU) new legislation on the “return” of rejected migrants, stressing that European countries cannot transfer their obligations to third countries.
The Migration Observatory wants municipalities at the centre of reception and warns: forced migrations are increasing while solutions are shrinking in Europe.
The Migration Observatory reports that the majority of refugees seeking asylum in Portugal originate from African and Latin American countries.
The European Parliament has approved new rules to accelerate the deportation of migrants to centres outside the European Union. Swedish MEP Abir Alsahlani, who is an Iraqi refugee, strongly condemned the measure and accused the far-right of having crossed all boundaries. The far-right benches celebrated the vote with chants of 'send them back'.
Pope Leo XIV advocates for stronger measures to ensure the safety and rights of migrants.
The volume of asylum requests in Portugal has seen a significant decrease of nearly 40% throughout the year 2025.
Richard Gere called for addressing the root causes of migration and viewing this phenomenon from a moral perspective rather than just through restrictive and security-based policies.
Home News AIMA and the Migration Council praise the government's draft laws AIMA and the Migration Council praise the government's draft laws Officials from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum and the National Council for Migration and Asylum praised draft laws to create regulations
Home News EU Approves Sweeping Migration Reforms Including Offshore Return Centres EU Approves Sweeping Migration Reforms Including Offshore Return Centres The European Union has approved a major new migration reform package that could significantly reshape how asylum seekers and irregular migran
AIMA and the Migration Council consider it important to have a regulation for the stateless status, which will lead to the granting of nationality, as provided for in a 2023 law that was never implemented.
The new pact aims to harmonise migration and asylum rules and procedures within the community area. It enters into force on 12 June, but Manuel Jarmela warns of the necessary organisational reforms.
