According to the report, 101 citizens were repatriated to Portugal in 2019, 47 in 2020, 28 in 2021, 33 in 2022 and 60 in 2023.

These services are responsible for the detention and deportation operations of foreigners considered to be harmful to the security of North American communities or who violate immigration laws.

The issue of repatriating Portuguese people has been raised after the newly inaugurated US President, Donald Trump, announced his intention to deport illegal immigrants.

Foreign Minister Paulo Ragel said that any deportations of Portuguese citizens in an irregular situation in the United States would not have “a notable impact”, adding that the government “is prepared” and is working in conjunction with the government of the Azores.

“We don’t expect it to have a notable impact, but here we are, we are always prepared,” said Paulo Rangel, during a hearing at the parliamentary committee on European Affairs, having been questioned by the PS and Bloco de Esquerda about possible deportation plans. , already announced by the new US President, Donald Trump.

The head of Portuguese diplomacy stated that the government would deal with the situation “always in close coordination with the regional government of the Azores”, where a large part of the Portuguese emigrants in the United States come from.