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Portugal's immigrant community is facing a growing crisis marked by confusion, fear, and a major crackdown on immigration. A new agency and a series of legislative changes have created a climate of uncertainty, leaving many, particularly from the Bangladeshi community, in a precarious legal position.
The situation has been exacerbated by the integration of Portugal's national systems with the Schengen Information System (SIS), a process that has reportedly led to the cancellation of numerous residence cards. Immigrants whose cards have been canceled have been given as little as 20 days to leave the country, an abrupt and life-altering development for those who have built lives and careers in Portugal.
This new turmoil is a continuation of long-standing issues within the Portuguese immigration framework. The new Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) inherited a substantial backlog of hundreds of thousands of cases from its predecessor, SEF. Despite efforts to address this, many individuals who submitted fingerprints long ago still await their residence cards, trapped in a legal no-man's-land.
Furthermore, recent legislative changes are tightening the immigration landscape. The government's new proposals include eliminating the "expression of interest" pathway for undocumented migrants, extending the residency period for citizenship, and introducing stricter rules for family reunification. These measures signal a significant shift in Portugal's immigration policy, moving toward a more restrictive approach.
The human impact of these changes is already being felt. Reports of police arrests targeting expatriates, particularly within the Bangladeshi community, have become more frequent. These arrests, coupled with the administrative chaos, have fueled a sense of vulnerability and alarm. For many, the future in Portugal is now hanging in the balance, and legal experts are advising individuals to seek immediate guidance to navigate this complex and difficult new reality.
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