The Minister of the Interior this Friday expressed optimism about the restructuring of the SEF, saying that the internal security system will become “even safer” and the conditions for the reception and integration of immigrants will be “more adequate.”
“The transition of the Foreigners and Border Guards (SEF) is going well,” assured José Luis Carneiro, who participated in the opening of the annual congress of trade unions representing SEF inspectors, at which “the new architecture of the Internal Security System and the redistribution of powers of the SEF”, when before its extinction about four months left.
Speaking to reporters, a government official stressed that “the internal security system will become even safer and the conditions for the reception and integration of immigrants will be more adequate”, and said that this restructuring “guarantees the same funds” that Portugal had at the borders, because “SEF staff will work for the PSP and GNR to ensure air and maritime border security.”
The minister also stressed that “cooperation and integration of SEF inspectors into the Joint Venture will allow them to work more qualified” in the field of combating human trafficking and illegal immigration.
The liquidation process of the Aliens and Borders Service will take place at the end of October, with the transfer of police powers to the SEF of the PSP, the PNR and the SP, and the functions of administrative matters related to foreign citizens will be transferred to the new Aliens Agency. Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) and Institute of Registration and Notary Public (IRN).
As part of this process, there will also be a reconfiguration of the Portuguese border control system, with the creation of a Coordinating Unit for Borders and Aliens, which will operate under the Secretary General of the Internal Security System.
José Luis Carneiro specified that the transition will start on October 29, but that there are already 500 PSP police and GNR soldiers at the maritime borders and in areas that are cooperating with SEF officials to strengthen and control the borders.
“The transition will also allow, by creating the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, we will have more resources for reception and integration,” he stressed.
The Minister also said that the assessment of this restructuring is related to “the preparation of the country for a new European architecture for strengthening borders and improving conditions for reception and integration, as well as international protection and asylum.”
“The capacity building of the system was assessed both in terms of security and in terms of reception and integration. Progress has been made in terms of efficiency as the various police forces are now more integrated, namely in the fight against organized crime, and start sharing resources,” he said.
When asked about the costs of this process, the minister said that “it is not possible to establish cost accounting”, since it is about “the security of the country and the conditions corresponding to a systemic change in terms of the European security architecture”.
A transitional regime for SEF workers establishes that inspectors will be transferred to the PJ and non-police personnel to the future agency and IRN, with a “transitional functional distribution regime” that allows SEF inspectors to serve for two years. GNR and PSP at air and sea frontier posts.
SEF inspectors, who currently have higher grades, may continue to perform duties with the tax authority and AIMA under the “temporary functional allocation regime”.
The High Commission for Migration (ACM) will also cease to exist and be integrated into AIMA.
The decision to restructure the SEF was taken by the previous government and approved by the Assembly of the Republic in November 2021, but has been delayed twice.
The Union of Professional Research and Inspection of the Foreigners and Border Guards Service (SCIF-SEF), which represents the majority of inspectors, is holding its annual congress this Friday in Lisbon, the day the SEF celebrates its birthday.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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