Lisbon, Aug. 26, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese PSP police unit for foreigners and borders (UNEF) detected 1,117 cases of illegal status (2.1%) amongst the more than 52,000 foreign nationals checked during its first year of operation, the organisation announced on Wednesday.
In response to a query from Lusa regarding the UNEF's first year, the Public Security Police (PSP) stated that it had carried out a total of «5,397 inspection operations between 21 August 2025 and 31 July 2026, during which 52,421 foreign nationals were inspected».
«These operations resulted in 831 notices to leave the country voluntarily, 285 arrests for unauthorised residence and one arrest for failing to comply with an entry ban», the police stated regarding the work of the UNEF, adding that «this reflects the PSP's commitment to monitoring the residence of foreign nationals in the country and to preventing and detecting cases of unauthorised residence».
The UNEF is also responsible for the procedures involved in returning foreign nationals to their home countries.
In its first year of operation, «221 forced returns were carried out, of which 83 were escorted to their final destination, and 1,732 voluntary returns were facilitated, of which 995 took place in the first seven months of 2026».
The Temporary Accommodation Centre (CIT) for foreign nationals in Porto (Santo António Housing Unit) and the facilities equivalent to the CIT at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports held «more than 700 third-country nationals» and «more than 110 requests for documentation were made to embassies and consulates to facilitate the return» of foreign nationals.
According to the PSP records, «720 compulsory removal proceedings were initiated, of which 262 have already been decided, and more than 800 flights were booked in connection with voluntary and forced return procedures».
In addition, «more than 300 readmission cases were examined and decided, and more than 140 risk assessments were carried out in prisons and temporary accommodation centres».
The PSP also noted that it continues to examine cases of forced removal «referred by AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) and the now-defunct SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service), a significant proportion of which date from before 2020».
The UNEF began operations on 21 August 2025 and has as its main objectives border control and the monitoring of immigrants, responsibilities which previously fell to the now-defunct Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
Following the abolition of the SEF more than two years ago, some of this security service's responsibilities – notably the control of air borders – were transferred to the PSP, which, since 21 August last year, has expanded its remit with the creation of the UNEF.
PJA/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
