Within the scope of the restructuring process of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), according to the 2021 law that establishes the transfer of powers to the PSP and GNR, the control of cruise terminals was planned to pass to the PSP, however it has now been decided that the GNR will be responsible for this, while the PSP will be responsible for controlling air borders.

A source from the office of the Minister of Internal Administration, clarified to Lusa that “this measure is implemented under the desirable establishment of an operational cooperation agreement between the security forces”. In statements to journalists, the official maintained that “it was important that there was a unity of border management”.

“Just as we want there to be a unit in the integrated management of the air border, that's why GNR will not be at Beja airport, PSP will be. We also seek to ensure that the Coastal Control Unit guarantees control of the maritime border, seeking to guarantee the continuity and integrity of the air and maritime border”, said José Luís Carneiro.

The minister explained that, as part of the transfer of police powers from the SEF, air control will be guaranteed by the PSP and maritime and land control will be guaranteed by the GNR, while “everything that has to do with the dimensions of organised crime, namely human trafficking, will be the responsibility of the PJ”.

As part of the winding down of SEF, which in the meantime was postponed until the creation of the Portuguese Agency for Migration and Asylum (APMA), the police powers of SEF will pass to the PSP, GNR and the Judiciary Police, while the current attributions administrative matters in relation to foreign citizens are now exercised by the APMA and the Institutodos Registos e do Notariado.