“One of the tragic mistakes of the previous government in terms of migration was the way in which SEF [Foreigners and Borders Service] was abolished. There was a void in the return, removal of illegal citizens, the lack of supervision and a lot of entry control work. We had promised and we have implemented the creation of the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders in the PSP”, said the Minister of the Presidency.

António Leitão Amaro stressed that, with this new unit, the Public Security Police will be responsible for “controlling air borders”, monitoring immigration in conjunction with the GNR and for the removal and return of citizens in an illegal situation, which, according to the minister, “was simply not working”.

The minister also announced the approval of a new regime for the return and removal of citizens in an illegal situation in the country.

These two measures are included in a draft law on border control approved by the Government and which will be sent to the Assembly of the Republic.

This new PSP unit had already been announced in June by the Government when the Action Plan for Migration was announced.

When the Foreigners and Borders Service was abolished on 29 October last year, the air, port security and border control unit was created within the PSP, which is responsible for controlling the entry and exit of people into and out of the country by air and for security at airports.