Portugal Activates New National Unit for Foreigners and Borders to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement
The Portuguese government has officially commenced the operations of the Unidade Nacional de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (UNEF), a new specialized police unit dedicated to immigration enforcement. This strategic initiative, announced by the Ministry of Internal Administration, aims to enhance the state's capacity to manage migration flows, control borders, and execute removal orders for foreign nationals in an irregular situation. The unit functions under the command of the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP), marking a significant restructuring of Portugal's immigration and border security apparatus following the recent dissolution of the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF).
The establishment of UNEF is a core component of the government's broader action plan for migration, which separated the administrative functions from the police enforcement duties previously held by SEF. While the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) now handles residency applications, integration programs, and documentation, UNEF assumes the critical police powers. The government's objective was to create a more efficient system, ensuring that a dedicated law enforcement body could focus exclusively on security and enforcement, a capacity it felt AIMA was not structured to provide. This move also seeks to reinforce control at Portugal's air, sea, and land borders, with UNEF complementing the existing work of the PSP and the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR).
According to the decree-law establishing the unit, UNEF is vested with a wide range of competencies. These include the surveillance and control of airport borders, nationwide inspection of the legal status of foreign citizens, and the management and execution of coercive removal, judicial expulsion, and voluntary return processes. Furthermore, the unit is responsible for instructing misdemeanor cases related to immigration law violations, granting visas at airport borders under specific legal provisions, and managing temporary detention centers. This comprehensive mandate positions UNEF as the primary state actor for immigration enforcement on the ground.
In a recent interview, João Ribeiro, the Deputy National Director of the PSP, emphasized that UNEF will implement a robust and standardized operational model. He stated, “The great bet here will be the logic of creating a unit, having a command matrix and uniformity of procedures. We must guarantee that the border is resilient, but that everything that happens at the border happens in exactly the same way and in accordance with the standard operating procedures that are defined.” This commitment to standardization is intended to ensure fairness and predictability in enforcement actions, from airport arrivals to street-level inspections. Officers will have access to all of AIMA's information systems to instantly verify the legal status of any individual.
The government has confirmed that inspections will be a key activity for the new unit. These actions will supplement ongoing fiscalization efforts by the GNR, which have frequently identified individuals with outstanding orders to leave the country. During these encounters, valid documentation will be critical. Accepted documents include a valid residence permit, proof of a pending application or appointment with AIMA, or a residence visa. For non-residents, a passport is sufficient for the 90-day tourist period within the Schengen zone. Authorities have clarified that having a tax number (NIF) or social security number (NISS) alone is not proof of legal residence.
A significant task for UNEF will be addressing the backlog of over 40,000 removal decisions issued by the former SEF. Director Ribeiro confirmed that these orders will be enforced. “Those who are in an irregular situation is something that we will comply with, it is our mission to remove people who are in an irregular situation,” he stated, adding that the process would be 'intelligent,' offering support for voluntary return as a first option. This enforcement-led approach is a clear signal of the government's intent to crack down on irregular immigration.
Despite the unit's focus on enforcement, officials have attempted to mitigate concerns within immigrant communities. Director Ribeiro, a veteran PSP officer, conveyed a message of reassurance. “Immigrants do not need to be afraid of this new unit, on the contrary. The strategy that we have focuses here, fundamentally, on essential pillars, on what is the law and following the logic. We were and are a country of emigrants, therefore, we were well received, well received, well integrated, and the logic has to be precisely the same.” He affirmed that fundamental human rights would be respected throughout all operations, balancing the need for security with Portugal's humanitarian traditions.
The activation of UNEF represents a pivotal moment in Portuguese immigration policy. It reflects a Europe-wide trend towards strengthening external border controls and creating more specialized internal enforcement mechanisms. The long-term impact of this new unit on migration patterns, community relations, and the processing of foreign nationals will be closely monitored by political analysts and human rights organizations alike. The government maintains that this structural reform will lead to a more secure, orderly, and fair immigration system for all.
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