CHEERING rang out from the shore of a secluded Algarve beach as a rickety boat packed with 38 migrants pulled up during sunset.
But their jubilation was short-lived as, in a stark contrast to the UK, Portuguese authorities acted quickly and firmly – wanting to stamp out any chance their nation could be used as a gateway to Europe.
Migrants cheer as they arrive on Boca do Rio beach in Portugal’s AlgarvePaulo Lourenço
Darren FletcherAll 38 migrants were given aid before being detained by police[/caption]
The migrants – from Morocco – gave a thumbs up before calling home to let them know they’d made itPaulo Lourenço
Darren FletcherThe boat 38 migrants arrived on in the Algarve from Morocco[/caption]
Top officials in the southern European nation told us their message could not be clearer to those looking to travel unlawfully – do not come here, or you will be caught and removed.
Politicians and cops told us they want to “send a message” to any illegal migrants – and warned how failing to act quickly would simply foster “resentment” and anger for locals.
Portugal has been determined to nip in the bud any chance it could be caught up in the same migrant chaos as the UK and other European nations.
Rapid deportations, new detention centres, and 18,000 illegal migrants lined up to be expelled are just some of the tough new measures being deployed in the holiday nation, which welcomes 300,000 Brit tourists every year.
And it appears Portugal’s tougher stance is successfully shutting the door on illegal movement – with just eight boat landings since 2019.
Meanwhile, in the UK, there have been more than 190,000 migrant arrivals detected after crossing the English Channel in small boats since records began in 2018.
Overall migration has also dropped sharply in Portugal – down from a net gain of 63,000 in 2019 to under 21,000 in 2024.
And this year, they have toughened up measures even further to stop any surge before it starts.
The Algarve coast has been deemed a “gateway to Europe” and is just 700km from Morocco – meaning it could quickly become a lucrative route for smugglers.
But Portugal appears to be stamping out any chance of the situation spiralling with an even tougher sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration.
Earlier this year, the nation’s parliament introduced tighter rules as part of a series of wider measures to restrict migration, as the “situation had become unsustainable”.
In what one senior politician labelled a “much-needed” strategy, Portugal launched a major campaign to eject thousands of people living there without proper authorisation.
And migrants who arrive illicitly will also be detained in temporary custody and given a 20-day window to voluntarily leave – or be booted out.
Cristóvão Norte, of Portugal’s ruling Social Democratic Party, served a warning Sir Keir Starmer might want to take heed of – delay enforcing an efficient policy makes the problem bigger, not smaller.
‘Hope the UK finds its own approach’
The national counsellor told how the government is building two new detention houses – and how illegal migrants will be expelled swiftly.
“I wouldn’t say that is a tough approach, I would say it’s a much-needed one, that’s different,” he told The Sun.
“Just want to stress that these kinds of changes are necessary, and being delayed makes the problem bigger, not smaller.
“Everyone is treated with respect and children are protected and taken care with all consideration.
“We had an empty policy, unarticulated from top to bottom. This new path is a good approach. I hope the UK finds its own.”
It serves to highlight a glaring disparity with Britain, where the PM is facing growing pressure to take a harder line on immigration.
Shocking figures show a record number of people claimed asylum in the UK since Labour came to power – with a massive 32,000 currently living in taxpayer-funded hotels.
The embattled PM has been warned he will lose the next election if his Government fails to get a grip on the illegal migrant crisis – particularly with boat crossings across the Channel.
It’s sparked riots across the UK, largely outside hotels where migrants – many of them economic – are being housed at the taxpayer’s expense.
But while dinghies continue to arrive on Kent’s shores at a spiralling rate, for those living in Portugal’s Algarve, it’s now a rare vision.
‘Felt like an invasion’
Local business owner Paulo Lourenço was making his way home one evening earlier this month when he spotted a boat making its way to shore.
He told The Sun: “I am at sea every day, I know every boat here – and this one was not normal.”
Concerned Paulo, who runs dolphin watching trips with Salema Tours, made a detour to the remote Boca do Rio beach and was horrified by what he saw.
Footage obtained by The Sun showed the moment a group of 38 migrants cheering and giving thumbs up as they pulled up on a tiny wooden boat.
Paulo said: “It felt like an invasion.
“I had a strange feeling. Really strange. Like an angry feeling, to be honest with you.
“I noticed they came to our country illegally and didn’t know what would happen – you don’t know if they are good people.
“They asked to borrow my phone to make a WhatsApp call – and they cried as they spoke to the family to tell them they had made it here.”
Darren FletcherCristóvão Norte, President of PSD Algarve, warned migrants, ‘Do not come here – or you will get caught’[/caption]
Paulo LourençoAnother migrant gives a thumbs up after reaching the Algarve[/caption]
Darren FletcherPaulo Lourenço called the GNR police after spotting the boat approaching the shore[/caption]
Darren FletcherBoca do Rio beach is an unmanned, secluded beach on the Algarve[/caption]
Darren FletcherThe small, wooden boat that 38 migrants came ashore on[/caption]
Paulo called authorities on his way to the largely deserted bay, and the migrants – 25 men, six women and seven children – were met by National Republican Guard police (GNR) after a treacherous 50-hour journey from Morocco.
Major-General Jorge Ludovico Bolas, who led the operation that evening, told The Sun how the GNR worked “effectively” after receiving an initial call at around 8pm on August 8.
He said: “Fortunately, we were fast arriving after the alarm, and we were able to meet them on the beach and not allow them to spread all over and run away.
“I believe some of them wanted to be captured because they were so thirsty and needed some aid. They wanted us to help them.”
Portugal seeks to prevent these arrivals from becoming regular routes, ensuring that each case is handled swiftly, in strict compliance with the legislation in force, while at the same time guaranteeing respect for human rights.
António Leitão Amaro
After being given aid and some hospital treatment, the migrants were dispersed to temporary centres in Porto, Lisbon and Faro.
A court has ordered that they return to Morocco voluntarily within 20 days – or be forcibly repatriated within 60 days, giving authorities a chance to coordinate arrangements with their homeland and, if possible, confirm their identities.
Major-General Bolas added: “I don’t know what they were expecting to happen.
“But I think the judicial decision was good in giving a message to Moroccan migrants, saying that we are not a good choice for them.”
Since the incident in the Algarve – the first in around four years – Major-General Bolas said measures have been ramped up to deter any more boats coming across.
Maritime and coastline surveillance has been intensified, with more police boots on the ground and boat patrols sent out to keep a watchful eye.
Sweeping crackdown
It comes as part of a major crackdown in Portugal, with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro vowing to end the country’s “wide-open doors” policy when he took office last year.
In May, a new campaign was kick-started to expel people unlawfully living in the country – with an estimated 18,000 expected to be given their marching orders.
While boat crossing are low, illegal migrants enter Portugal across their EU-mandated open border with Spain sometimes with the help of people smugglers and forged documents.
Most undocumented migrants in Portugal are believed to be from South America, especially Brazil, as well as people from Africa.
Back in 2023, around 200,000 people were thought to be living in Portugal without a residency permit – around half of them were from Brazil.
Mr Norte, president of the Faro Municipal Assembly and head of PSD Algarve, said the new tighter rules were triggered by “reality”.
He said illegal immigration “grows resentment” and insisted it is being “addressed properly”.
Mr Norte told The Sun: “Open doors without any integration device, housing and education guarantee, was producing profound changes in Portugal, mainly in Algarve and Alentejo.
“We need foreign people, yes, but we need integrated people, who can observe rules, respect our main framework of living and have their life project.
“We can’t have all at once, many being exploited, because our public services and society isn’t ready nor wants that.”
We had an empty policy, unarticulated from top to bottom. This new path is a good approach. I hope the UK finds its own.
Cristóvão Norte
António Leitão Amaro, minister of the presidency, also highlighted the government’s firm stance on illegal migration.
He said that, although incidents of boats reaching the coast are “rare”, the situation is continually – and closely – monitored by authorities and moves can be made to stop them before they reach the shore.
Mr Amaro told The Sun: “The change in policy was motivated by the need to restore the State’s control over immigration and respond to a situation that had become unsustainable.
“It was necessary to strengthen the entities and instruments for border control, combating illegal immigration, and fighting human trafficking.
“The government also launched the construction of two detention centres, since the national capacity was extremely low compared to the country’s real needs and was completely exhausted.”
At least £21million (€25m) has also been invested in the modernisation and renewal of border control technology.
He added: “The phenomenon of illegal sea arrivals seen in the United Kingdom is practically non-existent in Portugal.
“Portugal seeks to prevent these arrivals from becoming regular routes, ensuring that each case is handled swiftly, in strict compliance with the legislation in force, while at the same time guaranteeing respect for human rights.”
ReutersSir Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure to take a tougher stance on the UK’s illegal migrant crisis[/caption]
Darren FletcherThe spot the migrants landed on at the remote beach[/caption]
Darren FletcherGNR police at the scene on Boca do Rio beach[/caption]
Darren FletcherMajor-general Jorge Ludovico Bolas led the operation to detain the migrants[/caption]
Darren FletcherThe Sun’s Katie Davis at the unmanned Boca do Rio beach[/caption]
Despite the government’s stance, opinion among locals near Vila do Bispo is divided.
Two women who were on the beach when the boat arrived, too concerned to give their names because of their views, said they had pity for the migrants.
Speaking beside where the boat arrived, they told The Sun: “If they had come an hour or two later, nobody would have been here.
“We feel sorry for them. It’s really sad. Movement is normal. People want a better life.
“We are just the door to Europe, the gateway. The situation in Portugal is difficult. We are in a very economic problem.
“I mean, we have immigrants taking a lot of jobs. But the thing is, the jobs are so bad that the Portuguese don’t want them.”
Yet Portugal’s approach would likely be applauded by many fed-up Brits, who have taken to the streets to protest in recent weeks and demand Sir Keir up his game.
Both the public and politicians are turning up the heat on the PM amid fury at more than 200 hotels being used across the UK for migrants despite Labour’s manifesto pledge to end this.
The increase has been driven by a continued rise in small boat crossings – with more than 50,000 people coming across the Channel already under Labour.
Almost everyone who comes on a small boat then goes on to claim asylum – with 64 per cent being granted refugee status at the initial stage.
Labour has claimed they have returned 24,000 people since they came to power last summer – and this week they said the UK is ready to deport 100 migrants as part of their new deal with France.
The UK is grappling with a sharp rise in migration, particularly through small boat crossings across the English Channel.
It has placed immense pressure on the asylum system, with thousands of asylum seekers housed in hotels, costing the government billions annually.
In response, the UK government is trialling measures such as a “one-in, one-out” agreement with France, which has again proved controversial.
‘We’ll deport all illegal migrants’, vows Farage
by Martina Bet, Political Correspondent
NIGEL Farage has vowed to detain and deport every single illegal migrant in Britain – and ban them for life from ever returning.
The Reform UK boss unveiled his mass deportation blueprint — dubbed Operation Restoring Justice — promising detention camps, five deportation flights a day and a lifetime ban on ever coming back.
He said the crackdown could see up to 600,000 people deported in the first parliament alone, with savings of £17billion over five years and more than £42billion over a decade.
In a fiery speech at an aircraft hangar in Oxfordshire, the Reform UK leader blasted the crisis as an “invasion” and as a “growing threat to our national security”.
He said: “I think there is now as a result of this a genuine threat to public order and that is the very last thing that we want and I want.”
Under his plan, Britain would quit the European Convention on Human Rights, scrap the Human Rights Act and disapply the 1951 Refugee Convention – making deportation a legal duty.
He thundered: “We have to leave the ECHR, no ifs, no buts.
“It may have been a good idea 80 years ago. Frankly, it isn’t today.
“We have to repeal the Human Rights Act of 1998 brought in by a Blair government…
“Off the back of it, we will, for a five-year period, disapply the 1951 Refugee Convention and any other barriers that can be used by lawyers in this country to prevent deportations, to prevent the right thing from happening.
“We will create a legal duty for the Home Secretary to remove those that come illegally, and crucially, we will detain all illegal migrants who come, and we will do so immediately.”