- Government targets 18,000 unauthorized residents in largest deportation push since 2015
- 4,500 receive immediate 20-day voluntary departure notices ahead of May 18 snap elections
- Crackdown follows Social Democratic Party's collapse after parliamentary confidence vote
- Policy mirrors EU trends as far-right Chega party gains influence in Portuguese politics
Portugal's caretaker government has ignited controversy with its plan to remove nearly 18,000 foreign nationals residing without proper documentation. The announcement comes less than three weeks before critical parliamentary elections, raising concerns about political motivations behind the timing. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's administration faces mounting pressure from the surging far-right Chega party, which secured 13% of seats in 2023 elections despite being founded just five years prior.
Authorities will implement the policy through phased notifications, beginning with 4,500 individuals receiving 20-day voluntary departure orders starting Monday. Those refusing to comply face mandatory deportation and potential 5-year entry bans. Interior Ministry data reveals this initiative targets primarily migrants from former Portuguese colonies, including 32% from Brazil and 28% from PALOP countries. Critics argue the policy contradicts Portugal's 2018 regularization program that granted 170,000 migrants legal status.
The crackdown reflects broader European populist movements, mirroring Italy's 2023 naval blockade decree and France's recent immigration quota legislation. Portugal's foreign-born population has nearly tripled since 2015, reaching 1.1 million in 2024. This demographic shift coincides with a 41% increase in asylum applications last year, straining public services in major cities. The Chega party has capitalized on these tensions, proposing biometric monitoring of migrants and mandatory cultural assimilation programs.
Economic analysts warn the policy could exacerbate labor shortages in key sectors. Migrants currently constitute 68% of agricultural workers and 54% of construction crews nationwide. Tourism industry leaders report concerns about losing 12,000 seasonal workers ahead of peak summer months. Paradoxically, the government simultaneously announced fast-track visas for tech professionals, highlighting conflicting policy priorities.
A regional case study from Germany's 2021 immigration reforms shows mixed results. While deportations increased 18%, skilled worker shortages cost €34 billion in unrealized GDP. Portugal's situation differs through its heavy reliance on Brazilian nurses and Angolan healthcare workers, who comprise 39% of medical staff in Lisbon hospitals. The Nurses' Union warns of immediate service reductions if deportations proceed.
As election campaigns intensify, the immigration debate dominates 73% of political airtime according to media watchdog reports. The Social Democratic Party trails by 4 points in latest polls, with Chega gaining ground through anti-establishment rhetoric. International observers from the OSCE have deployed monitors amid concerns about xenophobic campaign tactics. The election's outcome may determine whether Portugal follows Hungary's strict immigration model or maintains partial regularization pathways.
