In the midst of a health crisis, the Portuguese government decided to grant citizenship rights to all migrants and asylum seekers, whose residence permit application is in progress, in order to protect them from the Covid-19.
Portugal is also affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Yesterday, Sunday March 29, the country recorded 5,962 contaminations and 119 deaths, including a 14 year old adolescent who already suffered from serious pathologies.
To protect its population, the Portuguese government has established containment as in most European countries. Police recently stepped up surveillance measures in particular by using drones in Porto and Lisbon.
In addition, Portugal also intends to protect the poorest in this context of health crisis. So, the government has announced the temporary regularization of immigrants awaiting residence permits as well as asylum seekers. This decision aims to provide access to social security and healthcare to all those who need it during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Those who are applying for citizenship will be granted citizenship rights until at least July 1", the government announced. Interior Minister Eduardo Cabrita said he was "important to guarantee the rights of the most vulnerable, as is the case with immigrants. It is the duty of a united society to guarantee immigrants access to health and social security in times of crisis".
"People should not be deprived of their health and public service rights simply because their request has not yet been processed."said Richard Danziger, regional director of UN migration.
To benefit from this temporary regularization, it will suffice for the persons concerned to present the certificate justifying their request to the immigration service. According to official statistics, 580,000 immigrants live on Portuguese soil, including many Brazilians. At the start of 2020, 135,000 people have already obtained a right to stay in Portugal.
The country is committed to protecting the entire population. In Lisbon, the homeless are not forgotten either. They regularly receive food distributed by the army. As for the National Health Service (SNS), it tests Portuguese massively and free of charge using rapid test kits. According to health authorities, this general screening is essential to stem the spread of the virus.
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by Sarah Chekroun