AIMA will notify 76,000 immigrants in the coming days about the rejection of their regularisation requests.
AIMA to Send 76,000 Rejection Notifications to Immigrants for Regularisation Process
In a recent parliamentary hearing, Pedro Gaspar Portugal, the leader of AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum), explained that 76,000 rejection notifications would soon be sent to immigrants. These notifications are due to applicants failing to respond to the initial notification requesting them to schedule a meeting.
Details of Pending Regularisation Processes
Total Pending Regularisation Applications | 446,000 |
Appointments Made | 250,000 |
Total Scheduled Appointments | 233,000 |
Of the 446,000 pending regularisation applications associated with expressions of interest—a legal resource eliminated by the current government—250,000 appointments were made, resulting in 233,000 actual meetings.
Rejection Notifications and Opportunities for Appeal
AIMA will send a total of 213,000 rejection notifications. However, applicants still have the opportunity to express their interest during a "hearing of interested parties." After this, the case will be reviewed and processed further.
Reasons for Lack of Response
The lack of response from applicants is often linked to factors such as:
Change of address
Leaving the country
Regularisation through alternative processes
Flagrant Cases Involving Judicial Authorities
During the process, AIMA encountered several cases where individuals, some with international arrest warrants, presented themselves. These situations, deemed "completely flagrant," received support from the judicial authorities.
AIMA Investigates 100,000 Regularisation Cases Amid Growing Pressure
Pedro Gaspar Portugal, President of AIMA, shared with the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms, and Guarantees that the agency is currently investigating 100,000 regularisation cases. An additional 133,000 cases are in the pipeline, with documents and regularisation requests being carefully evaluated.
Verification Process for Applicants
Pending Cases | 446,000 |
Completed Residence Permits | 10,000 |
Regularisation Applications in Progress | 133,000 |
The instruction process will allow for the verification of the necessary documentation, the applicants' criminal records, and whether they meet the required criteria for regularisation.
The Rigorous Nature of the Regularisation Process
The entire process is described as long and rigorous, with only 10,000 residence permit cards issued so far after investigations were completed. Despite the significant number of pending cases, AIMA remains focused on maintaining accuracy and thoroughness in each case.
Increasing Demand and Pressure on AIMA
In 2024, AIMA received over a million emails and 600,000 phone calls, which has placed considerable pressure on the institution and its staff. Family reunification processes saw a 4% increase, with 35,000 residence permits granted to descendants and ascendants of individuals who had already regularised their status in Portugal.
Legal Pressures and Challenges for AIMA
Portugal Gaspar expressed concern over the mounting legal pressures faced by AIMA, with thousands of lawsuits filed to expedite scheduling. While he assured that AIMA is not fearful of legal action, he emphasized that resolving administrative and documentary matters through the courts is not a productive approach.
"Few institutions face the pressure that AIMA has been under," said Gaspar, acknowledging the ongoing strain but reiterating the importance of a well-organized process.
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