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Lisbon-Portugal border The institution SEF faces criticism that it has been delayed in issuing post-Brexit ID cards to thousands of British citizens in the country, and has long been a structural influence on various other immigrant communities. We are shining a spotlight on the problem.
Nearly 35,000 British call Portugal their hometown in 2019, the year before Britain left the European Union, and their rights will be protected as part of the withdrawal agreement. became.
They were told by the SEF to exchange biometric ID cards for EU residence permits, but the majority did not receive those cards and gave them only temporary documents and QR codes. It wasn't done. Recognized.
According to Tig James, co-president of British in Portugal, without a card, people struggle to access medical care, exchange driver's licenses, get a job, and some people Entered Portugal as other EU countries do not accept temporary documents.
James said SEF officials cited staff shortages, vacation periods, COVID-19, and the arrival of Ukrainian refugees to justify the three-year delay.
"The seriousness (of not having a card) cannot be underestimated. It paralyzed and hurt the British people ... emotionally, physically and economically," James said. Told. The SEF said in a statement that temporary documents and QR codes would guarantee access to health and social services and would be accepted until the card was issued. It said other European countries knew it.
Card issuance began in February on the islands of Azores and Madeira, home to less than 1,500 British people. SEF has announced that it will begin the process in the seaside municipality of Cascais. , Near Lisbon this month.
SEF did not answer the question regarding the number of cards issued so far.
For years, SEF has been accused of being too slow and inefficient. The organization Diaspora mainly supports immigrants from Brazil and the African Continent, waiting an average of 2-3 years to make a reservation.
Diaspora native Helena Schmitz said waiting times brought "anxiety and instability" to the lives of migrants. Immigrants often have to do precarious jobs and are afraid to file discrimination complaints due to lack of identification.
"Much deeper than not having a residence permit," Schmitz told Reuters, "privileged groups" have access to SEF because they can pay a lawyer to complete the procedure. She added that often increases. (Report by Catalina Demony; edited by Inti Landauro and Alex Richardson)
