Immigrants Porto Protest News

Описание: The protest was organised by immigrants who have lived in Portugal for more than three to five years, many of whom worked in essential but low-paid sectors such as agriculture, construction, domestic services, hospitality and elderly care. Despite their crucial role in supporting rural and low-wage labour markets, many of these individuals continue to live in legal limbo—unable to regularise their status despite having paid taxes, contributed to social security, and demonstrated deep integration into Portuguese society. Several immigrants have children in Portuguese schools, with no criminal record and strong community ties. Protesters expressed outrage that peaceful, hard-working individuals – many of whom are awaiting regularization under the Portuguese immigration system – are now being detained, threatened with forced deportation, and treated as criminals due to bureaucratic alerts that have never been judicially reviewed. Some immigrants reported being called to police stations and held under pressure without due process, creating a climate of fear and insecurity among those who had otherwise lived legally and respectfully in Portugal.
Dr. Timóteo Macedo, founder of Immigrant Solidarity, addressed the crowd with strong words of solidarity, stating that the use of SIS alerts to justify deportation without trial or conviction is a violation of fundamental rights. He said that Portugal should not allow its immigration system to be dictated by invisible lists and silent decisions made in other countries. Dr. José Soeiro, representative of the Left Bloc , warned that allowing such warnings to override due process is a dangerous precedent that affects not only immigrants, but the rule of law itself.
Immigration consultant and community representative, Mr. Dharmjit Singh Saini, spoke on behalf of the Indian community and several other immigrant groups who have suffered in silence for years. He explained that these alerts are often the result of previous asylum applications or minor administrative issues and have no connection with criminal activities. However, based on these alerts, productive and tax-paying individuals are now being barred from residency or threatened with deportation. Saini stressed the need for Portugal to maintain control over its immigration policy and not act blindly on SIS data issued by third countries without a clear legal justification.
The protesters called on the Portuguese Government, in particular the Agency for Migration and Mobility (AIMA) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to review all residence permit refusals related to the SIS and to offer legal safeguards and redress mechanisms for those affected. They urged lawmakers to establish a fair and transparent path to regularization for those who have integrated into society and contributed to the economy, regardless of administrative alerts that lack criminal basis.
The Constitution of Portugal, together with the European Convention on Human Rights, guarantees the right to a fair trial and protection against arbitrary actions by the State. Protesters argued that the mass use of SIS alerts against immigrants violates these principles and risks creating a shadow system of deportation without due process. They demanded that Portugal return to its traditions of inclusion and justice, adopting special regularization measures for long-term immigrants and suspending deportations based on unverified and non-criminal alerts.