The “Defend your rights” demonstration will take place this morning (from 10 am), in front of the headquarters of AIMA – Agency for Migration and Asylum Integration.
The protest action was called by the Bangladeshi community in Portugal against the delays in renewing or issuing the first residence card by the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado.
Immigrant associations are also concerned about the increase in xenophobic speech in Portugal and are calling for a faster response from public services.
In recent days, the offices of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) have been the target of protests by immigrants who complain about years of delays in their processes.
“Every day we are called because of service problems”, said the leader of the Association for the Support of Immigrants and Refugees in Portugal, Amadou Diallo.
Immigrants sleeping on the streets is an increasingly common scenario, admitted Amadou Diallo, giving the example of two dozen Senegalese who arrived in Lisbon a few days ago and set up a large tent next to the headquarters of the former High Commission for Migrations.
“Nobody talks to the associations, we feel that things are changing in Portugal and that immigrants are starting to be criticized, when it is the fault of those who do not take care of the paperwork”, added Diallo.
A similar position is held by Alam Kazoi, leader of the Bangladesh Community of Porto. “Immigrants are very worried. Portugal was a country