A new political plan is generating fears among foreign communities. The proposal, presented by a rising party, provides for profound changes in the rules of residence and may result in the deportation of legal immigrants. The country concerned is the destination of thousands of Portuguese who live and work there.
The debate on immigration has been central to the United Kingdom National Political Agenda. Among the most controversial points is the revision of the Statute of Permanent Residence, which currently guarantees access to services and fundamental rights.
The target of change
According to the reformist party, the proponent of the measure, since 2019, 3.8 million people with long -term visas entered the territory. At least 800,000 should become eligible for permanent residence between 2026 and 2030.
Currently, this statute is obtained after five years of legal residence and ensures the right to live, work and study, as well as access to the health system and social support. The proposal provides for replacing this right with a five -year renewable visa without access to benefits.
What is at stake for residents
If the measure advances, immigrants who already have residence permission would see their status annulled and would be required to apply again. Who does not meet the new requirements risks deportation.
The new rules also include an increase in the salary requirement, the exclusion of the right of family reunification and restrictions on access to public services.
The Portuguese and the direct impact
According to official data mentioned by the news page Executive Digest, more than 490 thousand Portuguese are registered in the country. Of these, 316,000 obtained the statute of permanent residence and 177,000 the provisional, under the special regime created after the UK departure from the European Union.
Although the party has ensured that this group will not be affected, the announcement has generated concern among the communities. Many fear future changes or additional difficulties in renewing documents.
Party view and affected sectors
The leader of political force, Nigel Farage, argues that the measure aims to reduce public expense with social security, reserving it exclusively for national citizens. It also estimates a savings of £ 230 billion with the application of the new rules, explains a.
For areas dependent on foreign labor, such as health and social care, a “acute scarcity of skills” was announced. Still, the numbers would be extremely limited and with a strong requirement to form local citizens.
Consequences and next steps
The reformist party currently leads polls ahead of labor in power. If you win the next elections, the application of these measures can radically change the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
For the Portuguese, the guarantee of protection through the special regime brings some relief, but does not eliminate uncertainty. The impact of deportation policy continues to be seen as a real risk in a country where the Portuguese community has a strong presence.
Also read:
