On Thursday, the Portuguese government unveiled a new bill designed to accelerate the deportation process for immigrants who are in the country illegally. This proposed legislation has already received approval from the Council of Ministers and is set to be voted on in Parliament. The key provisions include reducing the duration of expulsion procedures, limiting the avenues available to prevent deportations, and extending the maximum pre-deportation detention period from 60 days to up to 18 months. Government spokesperson António Leitão Amaro emphasized the need for consequences for illegal immigration, asserting that Portugal currently has some of the lowest deportation rates in Europe.

The bill also brings about significant changes in how asylum requests are handled, allowing for simultaneous processing of asylum applications alongside deportation proceedings. This is intended to prevent individuals from using asylum requests as a tactic to delay their deportation. Furthermore, the new legislation proposes to increase the duration of return bans for those deported, illustrating a strong governmental stance on immigration control.

Despite the government lacking a parliamentary majority, it has been successful in passing various measures aimed at tightening immigration regulations in recent months. The potential passage of this bill could significantly influence Portugal's immigration landscape and reflect broader trends in European immigration policy, as national governments grapple with the challenges of irregular migration.