Immigrants Sleep on Streets for Official Stamps, Fear Job Loss; Porto Community Steps Up with Food and Shelter

Hundreds of immigrants, primarily from Angola and Nepal, are enduring long queues and nights on the streets to secure essential consular services in Portugal. In Lisbon, the process is shockingly brief—minutes inside the Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities (DGACCP) after days of waiting. Cátia, one of the many affected, questions the necessity of such an ordeal when simpler solutions like utilizing Citizen Shops nationwide could suffice.

In Porto, a heartwarming response emerges as local shopkeepers and residents rally to support these immigrants. They provide chairs, water, food, and even temporary shelter to those spending nights in line. This community effort highlights the stark contrast between bureaucratic inefficiencies and human solidarity.

Meanwhile, the desperation has led to extreme measures in Lisbon, including reports of a baby being 'rented' to gain priority in the queues. The situation underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to address the challenges faced by immigrants in Portugal.