These are the main results of the opinion survey carried out by the Lisbon Public Law Research Center, of the Faculdade de Direito of the University of Lisbon, within the scope of the project “Imigração Sustentável num Estado Social de Direito”, coordinated by Carlos Blanco de Morais and Ana Rita Gil.

Only 10.7 percent of respondents consider that immigration is controlled and 55.2 percent consider, as one of their biggest concerns, that immigration in Portugal is out of control.

Among several possibilities, 45.4 percent of respondents chose the option that there are too any immigrants in Portugal and 48.7 percent choose as a priority that Portugal establish quotas with numerical limits for immigration.

Of the people surveyed 45.5 percent also choose as one of their main concerns the need for Portugal to have a police force that deals specifically with foreigners and borders, thus calling into question the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).

The Portuguese still consider almost unanimously that those responsible for the exploitation of immigrants should be punished (98 percent), such as keeping immigrants in unsuitable accommodation, withholding documents by the employer, as well as not complying with labour laws, among others.

Concerns

Concerns by 78 percent of respondents are that immigration could involve risks, only 22 percent of respondents believe the arrival of foreign immigrants does not pose any risks. Of the former, 75.5 percent choose the increase in crime as the main risk and 68.1 percent, highlight in particular, crime linked to trafficking networks and illegal immigration. Concern for security is still visible in 60.5 percent of respondents who defend the expulsion of immigrants who commit crimes in the territory. The majority (52.7 percent) also consider that the authorities should prohibit people with a criminal record from entering the country. Another concern chosen as most important is related to housing. A notable majority of respondents (76.7 percent) report that immigration causes housing prices to vary.

Despite the concerns expressed about insufficient public regulation, the answers to questions about the general perception of immigration demonstrate a positive attitude towards the entry, stay and access to social rights for immigrants in the national territory. In fact, 71.7 percent of those surveyed chose as one of the phrases they most often use “the Portuguese welcome immigrants” and 68.7 percent consider it important for Portugal to receive immigrants from within and outside Europe.

Pointing out the positive aspects of immigration, 67.3 percent of respondents refer to the formation of a multicultural society, 64.2 percent refer to greater availability of labour and 48.5 percent refer to the contribution to population growth and job creation (34.2 percent).

The Brazilian community is considered to be the best integrated in the country. With 72.2 percent of Brazilians elected, notably in first place, as the best immigrants integrated into Portuguese society.

This is followed by immigerants from European states (41.2 percent), African citizens of the PALOP (32.4 percent) and the Chinese (23.1 percent).

The communities that respondents consider to be the least integrated are Indian and Pakistani, as well as those from North Africa and the Middle East.

The project “Imigração Sustentável num Estado Social de Direito” aims to critically evaluate Portuguese Immigration Law and Policy, intending to open a broad and rigorous debate on what characteristics a coherent, effective and sustainable immigration policy should have in a democratic, social and pluralist State of Law, and how this should be translated into the Immigration Law.

The current law has undergone successive changes, mainly through the creation of new means of entry into the country and the expansion of possibilities for regularising the status of illegal foreigners. On the other hand, the Foreigners and Border Service is to be abolished. We are witnessing an increase in the phenomena such as aid to illegal immigration and human trafficking, employment of citizens in an illegal situation, the goal is to guarantee that everyone has the right to a dignified existence.

Author

A journalist that’s always eager to learn about new things. With a passion for travel, adventure and writing about this diverse world of ours.

“Wisdom begins in wonder” -  Socrates

Kate Sreenarong