Portugal expands temporary housing capacity for irregular migrants

Portugal has increased its capacity for temporary housing for foreign nationals in irregular situations to 171 places, surpassing the European benchmark of 102. The expansion was announced by Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves following the inauguration of a new modular wing at the Centro de Instalação Temporária (CIT) in Santo António, Porto.

The new facility adds 80 beds, bringing the total capacity across centers in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and Beja to 171. The Santo António unit now accounts for 114 of these places. Minister Neves stated that this reinforcement improves the national response to challenges regarding migration management, asylum, and returns, aligning with the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum.