Welcome to the Week em Breve, a wrap-up of important Portuguese news to keep you up to date and in the know.
“Mini-SEF” comes into force
The National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (Unidade Nacional de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, UNEF) — known as ‘mini-SEF’ in reference to the now-abolished border agency Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras — began operations on Thursday, August 21.
The new unit is part of Portugal’s civil police force (Polícia de Segurança Pública, PSP), and is responsible for the removal, readmission, and voluntary return of people with an irregular immigration status.
This has been handled by the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo, AIMA) since SEF was abolished in 2023.
UNEF will also be responsible for managing temporary accommodation centres for people awaiting deportation or asylum applications, as well as the inspection and control of air borders, which was already carried out by PSP.
According to Público Brasil, this new unit will have the power to stop people, check their documents, and detain them on suspicion.
As such, experts have advised immigrants in Portugal to carry their residence card or a passport with proof of AIMA-issued regularization, Público Brasil reports.
The National Unit for Foreigners and Borders was approved by the National Assembly on July 16 in the same session as the now-stalled “foreigners’ law.”
Social security would have shrunk without immigrant workers
The number of people contributing to Segurança Social, which funds healthcare, pensions, and other services, would have shrunk last year if it weren’t for foreign workers, Jornal de Negócios reports.
In 2024, the total number of active contributors to social security increased by 2.4%, according to the Directorate-General for Social Security (DGSS).
This was thanks to immigrants, with the number of foreign contributors growing 15.1% while Portuguese contributors fell 0.1%.
Foreign workers make up almost a fifth of all the people paying social security.
Extreme heat linked to over 1300 excess deaths
Heatwaves in July and August contributed to 20 consecutive days of higher-than-expected mortality rates, Público reports.
During this period, there were 1,331 more deaths than expected across Portugal, mainly of people aged 75 and over.
The excess deaths occurred across the country, but the north, central, and Alentejo regions were especially hard hit, the publication reports.
High temperatures can cause heat stress, which disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with long-term illnesses, and pregnant women.
The ÍCARO Index (Heat-Related Mortality Risk Indicator), which measures potential excess mortality due to extreme temperatures, indicated significant risk during Portugal’s heatwaves.
When a warning is issued, it is advised that people drink plenty of water, seek cooler places, and avoid direct sunlight, among other things, Público reports.
Wildfires leave a devastating impact
As of last week, 2.35% of Portugal’s territory — around 216,214 hectares — has been destroyed by wildfires, Público reports.
This is significantly higher than the roughly 1% that is normally destroyed in Portugal, which is already the highest proportion in Europe.
Only Spain has seen more damage in absolute terms, with 344,000 hectares burnt this year, the publication reports.
A fire that broke out in the district of Guarda and later connected with a fire from Viseu is thought to be the largest of the year, and potentially the largest ever in the country.
