# Irregular migration trends in Portugal

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/irregular-migration-trends-in-portugal
> Updated: 2026-09-13T04:00:02.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) has reported an increase in irregular migration within the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto. According to Superintendent-Chief João Ribeiro, head of the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF), many individuals are arriving via bus and train from other European cities, often using Portugal as a transit point to reach destinations like Ireland.

In response to these movements, the PSP has implemented mobile border controls at major road terminals and railway stations. Following criticisms from immigrant associations alleging that the UNEF is conducting a ‘hunt’ for illegal immigrants, Ribeiro defended the agency’s actions. He characterized the strategy as an ‘intelligent approach’ that focuses on specific risk factors in metropolitan areas to ensure that individuals without legal status undergo required departure processes. Additionally, Ribeiro noted that the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has issued over 80,000 notifications for voluntary departure to individuals lacking residency authorization.

To manage these flows, the PSP is seeking a ‘quick solution’ for the construction of temporary installation centers in Lisbon and Porto, noting that 30 million euros in European funding for such centers was previously lost. Currently, Portugal has 130 available spots for migrants in the expulsion process, distributed across facilities in Porto, Santo António, and airports in Lisbon and Porto. The PSP aims to expand this capacity to 306 spots by the second half of 2027 and intends to create a national screening center at Lisbon airport to manage asylum requests and redirect processes more efficiently.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-13: Portuguese police official rejects claims of immigrant hunt

PSP official João Ribeiro rejected claims of an immigrant “hunt,” stating the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders uses an “intelligent approach” targeting high-risk areas to manage irregular migration.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/portuguese-police-official-rejects-claims-of-immigrant-hunt

### 2026-09-13: PSP reports rise in irregular migrants arriving in Lisbon and Porto

The PSP reports an increase in irregular migrants arriving in Lisbon and Porto by bus and train, prompting calls for expanded temporary installation centers and improved screening processes.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/portuguese-police-alert-to-rise-in-irregular-migration-via-bus-and-train

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Cite as: Irregular migration trends in Portugal. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/irregular-migration-trends-in-portugal