A clandestine lodging operation, housing around 30 immigrants from the Indian subcontinent, was uncovered in the basement of a defunct restaurant in Lisbon's Arroios parish. The discovery was made by the local parish council with support from the Municipal Police.
All immigrants have now been removed from the premises, which lacked basic living conditions, as confirmed by Lisbon's Mayor, Carlos Moedas (PSD). The operation to dismantle the illegal lodging began last Wednesday, with efforts to rehouse the immigrants underway by the City Council and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.
"We're not leaving anyone on the streets. Solutions are being found for each individual, many of whom were deceived by the property owner," stated Moedas.
The mayor highlighted that over 400 inspections have been conducted on bars, restaurants, and shops to prevent their misuse as living spaces. He emphasized that the property owner violated the law, leading to authorities being notified.
City Seeks Solutions
The process of relocating the immigrants took several days, with the city and its partners working to ensure no one was left without shelter. The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa is involved in providing support, though the exact number of immigrants seeking rehousing assistance has not been disclosed.
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