The Service for Foreigners and Border Guards (SEF) has refused to consider the disappearance of pilgrims who entered Portugal for World Youth Day (WYD) as a security risk, the organization explained this Friday.
The Expresso newspaper reported today that thousands of pilgrims will not return to their countries of origin after the event held in Portugal from August 1 to 6, and that they will take the opportunity to stay in the country or travel to other European countries. the numbers are unknown. of these cases exactly.
“The reported cases of pilgrims who ceased to accompany their respective groups were not considered a security threat to the event, so taking measures aimed at their detection and control was not justified,” the SEF response to Luce said. stressing that this would be an “interference with the freedom of movement” of these citizens.
However, repeating the clarifications already given to the newspaper, the SEF relativizes the situation and adds that the pilgrims, who will eventually be found illegal, will be expelled.
“The procedure provided for in the Aliens Act will be adopted if the authorities identify any of these irregular citizens. That is, the citizen will be notified of the need to leave the country within 10-20 days,” the security department specified. official press.
The SEF also recalled that these pilgrims “legally entered Portugal and enjoy freedom of movement in the Schengen area during the validity of visas,” which were issued by the consular offices of Portugal and other Schengen countries.
Without saying whether statements of interest of these foreign nationals to remain on the national territory had already been received, the security service also argued that “they can leave through any external Schengen border other than the Portuguese one” or “within certain limits, request an extension of permanence”.
From 22 July to 6 August, a total of 1,362,272 people were stationed at the Portuguese borders, where documentary control was temporarily restored on the occasion of the WYD, according to preliminary data released in the final balance sheet of the WYD security operation.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.