A Lei de Estrangeiros portuguesa (2007)
uma análise do processo político
Keywords:
immigration policy, Foreigners Act of 2007, bipartisan consensus, migration governanceAbstract
Between 1999 and 2007, immigration policy in Portugal developed amid a broad consensus between the Partido Socialista (PS) and Partido Social Democrata (PSD). This consensus culminated in the 2007 Foreigners Act, which is currently in force. This model incorporated immigrant associations, trade unions, employers, and the Catholic Church, reflecting a negotiated approach in which immigration was not highly politicized. However, an analysis of the legislative trajectory reveals a transition from a consensual, regulatory, and humanistic model in the early 2000s to a more polarized and restrictive scenario in recent years. This article shows that the 2007 Foreigners Act is currently under review due to challenges arising from the transformation of the party system, social and media pressure, changes in migration flows, and new internal and European political dynamics.
