Fake News about the Deportation of 60 Thousand Ukrainians from Portugal: What is Really Happening.

According to ТСН: False information about a supposed mass deportation of 60 thousand Ukrainians from Portugal has appeared on social networks and some media outlets.

According to analysts, these claims are fake. The country is only conducting a scheduled document check issued after the full-scale invasion began. The disinformation arose after the Polish publication Wiadomosci reported on the cancellation of “temporary protection” for a certain category of Ukrainians.

However, the article did not discuss mass deportation, but rather a requirement for refugees to provide additional information to clarify their status. The Portuguese Agency for Migration and Asylum (AIMA) noted that the check covers approximately 65 thousand people, of which 60 thousand are Ukrainians, and 5 thousand are refugees of other nationalities who arrived after February 2022.

Legal Basis for Checks

At the beginning of the war, temporary protection was granted quickly, without a full document check. Currently, the authorities aim to ensure that the documents of refugees comply with established requirements for legal residence.

Minister of the President’s Affairs António Leitão Amaro emphasized that each case will be considered individually. Deportation is theoretically possible only in the absence of necessary documents, but it is not a mass measure. Students who continue their studies can obtain student visa status and remain.

Situation with Temporary Protection

According to AIMA, individuals who have already provided necessary documents retain their temporary protection permits. Thus, Portugal does not plan mass deportations but only aims to ensure the legality of refugees’ residence.

Moreover, the European Union is introducing a new control system that changes the rules for crossing borders for Ukrainians and other third-country citizens traveling without visas.

It was previously reported that while European and U.S. countries continue long-term protection programs for Ukrainians, Israel is refraining from active measures, which may lead to a risk of deportation for refugees. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians may find themselves outside the law in the near future due to bureaucratic delays by Israeli authorities.

This clarification regarding the situation in Portugal is important, as it shows that not everything appearing in the media or social networks corresponds to reality. Checking refugees' status is a normal practice aimed at ensuring legal norms and supporting people in difficulty. The situation with Ukrainian refugees remains relevant, and it is important to monitor its developments to avoid distortion of facts.