Mass expulsion of migrants ignites the elections in Portugal
Dozens protested last January near Martim Moniz Square in the Portuguese capital Lisbon against the police's violent treatment of migrants. Young Abdul, from Bangladesh, does not forget what happened in December: "Police suddenly spread out, forcing us to stand against the walls and raise our hands as if we were criminals." That was the largest raid campaign in the Rua do Benformoso neighborhood, where foreigners have always felt welcome.
But this neighborhood has become the center of debate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. After corruption allegations, conservative Prime Minister Luis Montenegro lost parliamentary confidence in March, leading to a quick re-election just a year later. During the campaign, Montenegro announced plans to deport 4,574 migrants within three weeks, followed by another 18,000 after review, raising significant concerns especially in migrant neighborhoods.
The leftist opposition described this shift as a 'Trumpian' policy, while many considered that Montenegro is trying to win over supporters of the far-right Chega party led by André Ventura, known for his anti-immigrant rhetoric, although statistics do not support his accusations regarding the relationship between immigrants and crime.
In recent years, Portugal has witnessed massive waves of migration, especially from Asia: from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and Pakistan. This new diversity has made integration more difficult compared to migrants from Brazil or European countries. Rua do Benformoso is bustling with Asian restaurants and shops, and has become a cultural and economic center for Asian communities.
Abdul, who came from the delta of the Ganges River two years ago, works in a store owned by a citizen from his country, and he says: "We are here to earn our living, not to cause problems. Portugal needs us."
Today, about 1.6 million foreigners live in Portugal, which is about 15% of the population. The number has doubled in three years, yet the state has failed to manage this influx. Last spring, images of migrants sleeping near the Anjos Church sparked widespread outrage, reflecting unprecedented chaos, and it has come to be seen as a turning point.
This chaos contributed to the flourishing of smuggling networks. The police recently uncovered a network that smuggled more than 10,000 people using forged documents with the help of an official employee, for 15,000 euros per person.
Nevertheless, the government confirms that Portugal needs immigrants. In farms, workshops, and restaurants, foreigners make up the essential workforce. However, since last June, the government has canceled entry facilitation, and it has become necessary to apply for residency from abroad, along with providing work and housing, which is hindered by a severe housing shortage.
Opponents doubt the state's ability to implement deportation plans. The new immigration agency AIMA is suffering from a lack of funding and staff, and is still piling up more than 450,000 residency applications that have not yet been processed. It is believed that about 170,000 people left the country without a response to their applications. Most of the rejections concern citizens from South Asia, who have previously been rejected in other European countries and then tried to enter through Portugal.
Experts believe that only half of the applicants may ultimately obtain legal residency. If widespread deportations are carried out, the economy could be severely affected, especially since immigrants contribute more than they benefit from the social security system. The underlying issues, such as the housing crisis and pressure on the healthcare sector, existed before immigration, but they are now being used as an electoral excuse.
The Chega party is not only betting on the issue of immigration, but also promotes the idea that the two major parties, PSD and PS, are involved in corruption that has lasted for 50 years. Although Luis Montenegro denies any conflict of interest in his previous work, opinion polls show progress for his right-wing bloc AD.
Montenegro seeks to pull the rug from under Chega through a hardline rhetoric, but he refuses to cooperate with them in the government, even if they hold the majority together. Chega is expected to retain fifty seats, despite three of its deputies being involved in criminal investigations.
Activist Timothio Masido, head of the "Solidarity with Migrants" organization, sees these policies as a social disaster: "We demand respect for the efforts of migrants. The problem cannot be solved through expulsion. These policies ignite racism and serve the mafia networks that sell visas for more than ten thousand euros." He affirms: "We will resist. Expulsion is not the solution."