"Equal rights for all", "We are all legal", "No more waiting," and "residence for all" are some of the phrases shouted by Asian immigrants at the demonstration promoted by the Immigrant Solidarity Association.

Speaking to journalists, the association's president, Timóteo Macedo, criticised the agreement recently signed between the Portuguese State and employers for hiring in countries of origin, known as via verde, saying that in this way workers will be "enslaved and in the hands of employers".

In previous statements to the Lusa news agency, the president of the association said that they have collected many complaints from immigrants from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and India. “[Those] that the Portuguese State does not want to accept”, he said.