Shock in the Algarve: 34 Asylum Requests from Moroccan Migrants Denied by Portuguese Authorities

Asylum Requests Rejected for Migrants in Algarve

Portuguese authorities have denied 34 asylum applications from a group of Moroccan migrants who arrived in the Algarve on August 8. Four cases involving unaccompanied minors are still under review.

According to a source from the Agency for Integration, Migrations, and Asylum (AIMA), the 34 applications from adult migrants and minors accompanied by parents were deemed unfounded. The remaining four applications for unaccompanied minors are pending evaluation, with AIMA requesting the Public Prosecutor's Office to appoint a legal representative for these cases.

Applicants have been notified of the decisions and have a 10-day period to appeal.

On August 9, the on-duty judge at the Silves Court ordered the coercive removal and transfer of the migrants to temporary accommodation centers in Porto and Faro. If the migrants do not express a willingness to return voluntarily, the coercive removal has a legal deadline of 60 days.

So far, none of the migrants have indicated a desire to return to their country of origin, as confirmed by a PSP source. For voluntary returns, the deadline was up to 20 days and has now expired.

The PSP also reported that only four out of the 38 individuals possessed or later presented any identification documents.