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Portugal denies asylum requests of Moroccan migrants in Algarve
Portuguese authorities have rejected 34 out of 38 asylum requests filed by Moroccan migrants who arrived on August 8 at Boca do Rio beach in Vila do Bispo, Algarve. The group, intercepted after traveling in a wooden boat, included 25 men, six women, and seven minors.
Asylum claims deemed “unfounded”
The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) dismissed the majority of the applications, citing them as “unfounded.” The claims were based on political, economic, and sexual orientation grounds. Four cases involving unaccompanied minors remain under review.
Initially housed in a pavilion in Sagres, some migrants required hospital care before their transfer to temporary accommodation centers. However, on August 9, a duty judge in the Silves court ordered their deportation within 60 days.
Rising irregular migration in the region
The group’s journey highlights the growing trend of irregular migration, which has seen men, women, and children embark on dangerous routes in search of better opportunities. Authorities reported that only four of the migrants carried identity documents.
In 2024, Morocco intercepted 78,685 irregular migration attempts, reflecting its firm stance on migration challenges. According to the Ministry of Interior, most intercepted migrants were West African nationals, accounting for 58% of the total, followed by 12% from the Maghreb and 9% from East and Central Africa. Additionally, 14 coordinated attempts to cross into Spain’s enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla involved over 4,290 migrants.
Portugal’s rejection of these asylum claims underscores the ongoing strain on migration systems across southern Europe, as authorities balance humanitarian considerations with legal and logistical challenges.