Portugal regularizes immigrants to protect them from coronavirus

Text by: RFI Follow

While the European continent is facing the coronavirus epidemic, the Portuguese public authorities announced on Saturday March 28 the temporary regularization of immigrants awaiting residence permits from Monday March 30. An exceptional and temporary measure to protect them from the Covid-19.

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It is about showing solidarity with the most disadvantaged in an emergency situation . This is how the government justified the exceptional measure to regularize immigrants awaiting residence permits, as well as asylum seekers, reports our correspondent in Lisbon, Marie-Line Darcy.

All they need to do is provide the certificate justifying the request to the immigration service to benefit from the measures taken for all citizens within the framework of Covid-19 . Like home care in case of symptoms or in the case of childcare - the schools are closed. But also to benefit from employment and wage protection measures intended to reduce the economic impact of the epidemic.

" People should not be deprived of their rights to health and public service just because their request has not yet been processed, " Claudia Veloso, spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, told the agency. Reuters. “ In this exceptional period, the rights of immigrants must be guaranteed. "

Just recently, around twenty immigrant aid associations had warned of the dangers threatening these marginalized populations. Waiting times at the Immigration Service are five to six months.

Among the communities at risk are the Brazilians , who while waiting for the residence permit often work in the tourism sector - completely stationary. Or the Asian agricultural workers in the south of the country.

The normal regularization process is expected to resume on July 1.

100 deaths and 5,170 official cases of contamination

Portugal has registered 5,170 cases of coronavirus contamination in its territory and 100 deaths. A very low figure compared to its Spanish neighbor.

The number of immigrants or asylum seekers with claims pending in the country is unknown. Official statistics show that 580,000 immigrants lived in Portugal in 2019, a record, and that 135,000 people have already obtained the right to stay in the Iberian country since the beginning of 2020.

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• Portugal
• Coronavirus
• Immigration
• International Migration
• Refugees

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