Immigrant counselors condemn xenophobia and racism after attacks in Porto – Portugal

Representatives of immigrant communities at the Council for Migration and Asylum today condemned “any racist or xenophobic act in Portugal”, while rejecting the association “between racism, criminal acts and immigration”.

In a statement, the counselors regret that the crime allegedly with racist and xenophobic motivations against immigrants, in the early hours of Friday in Porto, “is being used as a way of fueling a retrograde agenda of returning to the police system of migration management that existed before October 29, 2023 and who has a very bad memory”.

The date referred to in the statement concerns the transfer of police powers from the former Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) to the security forces and the creation of the new Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA),

“Representatives of immigrant communities on the Council for Migration and Asylum have followed the work that has been developed by AIMA in these six months of life and express their confidence in the model that is being implemented, recognizing that the difficult starting point requires time for the results to be evident to everyone”, highlights the statement.

The representatives of the AIMA consultative body appeal to its members and communities in general to “maintain serenity, avoiding actions that in no way contribute to accelerating the process of change, but only to reducing the tranquility and credibility that the it even needs to produce effects”.

In this sense, they state that migrant associations will continue to be “attentive and active in combating racism and xenophobia”, as well as in “improving the promotion of equality in access and treatment with public entities, particularly with AIMA”.

In the early hours of Friday, there were three attacks and assaults on immigrants in the Campo 24 de Agosto area, on Rua do Bonfim and Rua Fernandes Tomás, in Porto.

According to the PSP, the attacks were carried out by several groups, with five immigrants being taken to the hospital due to their injuries.

Following the attacks, six men were identified and one was arrested for illegal possession of a weapon.

Given the suspicion of the existence of a hate crime, the case began to be investigated by the Judiciary Police.

Today, in a written response to Lusa, AIMA condemned and repudiated the acts of violence against immigrants in Porto, classifying them as unacceptable and particularly serious if the motivation for racial and xenophobic hatred is confirmed.

AIMA adds that it is “following the events since it became aware of them and, in cooperation with the various entities involved, namely criminal investigation, municipal, local, hospital and civil society, such as immigrant associations, to obtain information trustworthy and provide all necessary support within the scope of [suas] assignments”.