The government will unveil a migration plan next Monday at a time when demand for residence permits has soared, causing problems in the administration of services.
A government source said the plan will be presented on Monday afternoon, following a council of ministers meeting on the issue.
Last October, the previous government created the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), abolishing the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and the High Commission for Immigration. This decision was criticized by the SDP, then in opposition.
Backlogs have built up at AIMA services in recent weeks, with an estimated 350,000 cases remaining to be resolved.
On the other hand, AIMA faces an acute shortage of human resources, which will worsen with requests for layoffs of hundreds of employees.
According to an agency report published today by Expresso on resolving outstanding issues with the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), prepared this month, the new body began operations in October 2023 with just 714 employees – 41% of the total workforce. the contingent of extinct bodies that will be available.
The document states that there was a “net reduction in the total number of employees due to the departure of several employees, not offset by additions that occurred during this time.”
Expresso also cites a report which states that AIMA indicates that there are at least 459,384 processes underway as of October 29, 2023, the majority (344,619) of legalization through expression of interest (for immigrants who are already in Portugal, without the need for legal entry into the territory).
“There are no applications for golden visas, residence permits for students or, for example, as part of family reunification,” he adds.
The AIMA report also acknowledged that “it is not possible to determine the number of pending cases in a simple or reliable way” using information contained in databases.
AIMA talks about “aging technology infrastructure” that required “significant corrective and maintenance measures to ensure responsiveness and minimum standards of cybersecurity and information security.”
Last week the government announced it would review the institutional model for monitoring immigrants, deeming the way AIMA replaced the defunct SEF a “mistake.”
“Portugal had an institution, this institution was dismantled, its human resources were distributed among several institutions,” a decision that was criticized by a number of parties and organizations, the Minister of the Presidency said.
António Leitán Amaro promised within “the next few weeks” to announce measures for the sector, including “adjustments also in the institutional field,” without committing to maintaining AIMA.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Sandra Hansen, a news website Author and Reporter for 24 News Reporters. I have over 7 years of experience in the journalism field, with an extensive background in politics and political science. My passion is to tell stories that are important to people around the globe and to engage readers with compelling content.