The number of legal immigrants in Portugal reached 450,000 last year, which represents around four percent of the total population, according to the Annual Internal Security Report 2005, released today by the press.
According to the report, there were 457,721 legal immigrants in Portugal last year, which means an increase of 3.2 percent compared to 2004, the Público and Correio da Manhã newspapers reported today.
Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova and Brazil are the countries that contributed most to the number of immigrants in Portugal, the document points out.
According to the newspapers, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) carried out more than half (52 percent) of the expulsions of illegal immigrants in Portugal.
Last year, 754 foreigners, mostly Brazilians, were forced to leave Portugal.
On the other hand, 4,146 foreigners were refused entry, 748 more cases than in 2004.
The report – made up of information provided by the various security forces – shows that 19 percent more criminal proceedings were launched in 2005 for falsifying documents and aiding illegal immigration.
Control of external flights increased by four percent and surveillance of the external maritime border increased by 2.5 percent.
The 2005 Annual Internal Security Report will be presented today at the Council of Ministers.