“About 900 new requests are registered daily, 27,000 per month. This does not represent the presence of 27,000 new immigrants, because when SEF notifies them to appear, about half do not appear, they will be in other countries of the European Union. They decide not to go through with their request”, said SEF director Fernando Silva to the deputies of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees.

The national director of the SEF, together with those responsible for the Tax Authority, the Social Security Institute and the Authority for Working Conditions, was heard in parliament at a hearing requested by the PCP in the context of combating human trafficking and aiding illegal immigration for exploitation of immigrant workers.

SEF has recently been the target of several complaints by foreigners residing in Portugal who are unable to regularise their situation in Portugal and register on the website of this security service.

“In 2022, the results achieved demonstrate that work has continued. The restructuring process is ongoing in its procedures and in its specific area”, said Fernando Silva about the announcement of the extinction of the SEF and the consequences on his work.

As part of the restructuring of SEF, which was postponed until the creation of the Portuguese Agency for Migration and Asylum (APMA), the police powers of will pass to the PSP, GNR and PJ, while the current powers in administrative matters regarding foreign citizens rights are now exercised by APMA and by the Institute of Registries and Notaries.

In December, the Minister of Internal Administration advanced that the restructuring of the SEF will take place during the first quarter of this year.


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