The chairman of the PSD warned on Monday of the “great confusion” about the new Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), which “does not inspire confidence and security”, at a time when these two factors “weigh heavily”.
Luís Montenegro classified the process of abolishing the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and the creation of the new agency as “a big mess”, which should enter into force on the 29th but which “still has no statutes or headquarters has”.
The PSD bank announced on Monday that it wants explanations from the Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Ana Catarina Mendes, who oversees the new agency, during a hearing in the Assembly of the Republic.
“There is a great confusion that does not inspire confidence and security at a time when these two factors weigh heavily, obviously from a social point of view,” said Luís Montenegro, who spoke in Vila Real, on the first of three days dedicated to the neighborhood, as part of the “Feel Portugal” initiative.
For the Social Democratic leader, “it was a big mess” the “dismantling of the SEF,” especially because “no one understands what benefits the process has, no one understands how the human resources that were distributed among the different entities will interact.”
“A new structure has been created, AIMA, which still has no headquarters and no statutes, at a time when there is great pressure, because the SEF is being dismantled, there is confusion in that sector, there are intolerable delays in processing several steps needed to welcome and integrate immigrants,” he pointed out.
And he continued: ‘In fact, we are in a particularly sensitive time, where security levels are higher, as a result of the conflict that has arisen in the Middle East. “First decide, then think and then implement.”
The PSD leader also pointed to “a new confusion” from an organic point of view.
“The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is responsible for this area, but most operations related to border control obviously fall under the Ministry of the Interior,” he explained.
Luís Montenegro started a three-day visit to the Vila Real district on Monday, as part of the “Sentir Portugal” program, which aims to get in touch with local realities.
In Mesão Frio he contacted the population and visited the cooperative winery, then traveled by train to Peso da Régua and in Vila Real he visited the University of Trás-os-Montes en Alto Douro (UTAD).
The SEF’s extinction process is scheduled for October 29 and the powers of this security service will be transferred to seven organizations.
While police powers will pass to the PSP, GNR and the Judicial Police, functions in administrative matters related to foreign citizens will go to the new AIMA and the Institute of Registration and Notary (IRN).
To Lusa, MAI indicated that 590 general career and IT career employees will be transferred from SEF to AIMA and 75 general career elements will be transferred to IRN.
AIMA, which will inherit approximately 300,000 ongoing legalization processes for immigrants from SEF, will also retain the powers of the High Commissioner for Migration regarding issues of reception and integration of immigrants.
As part of this process, there will also be a reconfiguration of the Portuguese border control system with the creation of the Borders and Foreigners Coordination Unit, which will operate under the authority of the Secretary General of the Internal Security System.
The restructuring of the SEF was decided by the previous PS government and approved by the General Assembly of the Republic in November 2021, after being postponed twice.
Source: DN
