Former Minister Ana Catarina Mendes discussed the transition from the former SEF to AIMA, criticizing the current government's decision to shift border and return enforcement powers to the PSP police. She noted that while the administrative backlog is being addressed, she believes the integration of police functions into immigration policy is a regression.
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The University of Lisbon's Law School (FDUL) and the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) have established a cooperation protocol to assist international students with their residency regularization processes. The initiative, announced in August, aims to prevent AIMA's processing delays from impacting students' academic progress. The student representative body for Brazilians (NELB) notes that while the academic year has started smoothly, the protocol is the primary focus for students seeking to secure their residency permits.
The Higher Council of Administrative and Fiscal Courts has intervened regarding the over 50,000 notifications issued by AIMA ordering foreign residents to leave the country. The Council acknowledges that an increase in injunctions (providências cautelares) challenging these departure orders is expected and inevitable.
The South Central Administrative Court ruled in favor of an immigrant worker, Sharda BK, ordering AIMA to re-evaluate a residency application that had previously been stalled. The ruling highlights recurring judicial intervention in cases where residency processing delays affect individuals who are active in the labor market and paying taxes.