In a notice dated the 7th of this month and consulted by the Lusa agency, this council announces the entry into force of the measure and justifies it because there have been “situations of alleged false declarations or effective stay in the country that is somewhat doubtful”.

This decision by the council's executive, the document reads, took into account “well-founded concerns that the mass legalisation of illegal immigrants could be institutionalised through parish councils”.

Contacted by Lusa, the president of the Alcáçovas Parish Council, Frederico Carvalho, highlighted that the municipality intends to “prevent situations that can be understood as doubtful and, in some aspects, possibly as fraudulent”.

“The executive understands that the issuance of residence certificates to foreign citizens should not go through parishes, but through a body within the State's central administration that can supervise the applicants”, he defended.

In Alcáçovas, he pointed out, since the beginning of this year there has been “an abnormal and unusual demand” for residence certificates from foreign citizens who do not reside or work in this Alentejo parish.

Frederico Carvalho indicated that immigrants, especially from Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP), have approached the board with requests for a residence certificate and that some do so “shortly after arriving in the country”.

“We are afraid that they are using some experienced people to come to Portugal, not for professional or work purposes, but with the intention of having social protection and this could constitute fraud or fraud against the Portuguese State”, he considered.

In this sense, said the mayor, the Alcáçovas Parish Council has already forwarded cases considered suspicious to the authorities, such as that of an immigrant who requested a residence certificate for the specific purposes of a health card.

Now, the parish council requires a valid residence permit (rental or purchase of a house) to issue a certificate of residence to non-EU citizens, in addition to the two witnesses residing in the parish.

An identical decision was taken by the Arroios Parish Council, in Lisbon, which has already provoked the indignation of the Socialist Government, several political parties and associations supporting migrants.

The Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Ana Catarina Mendes, repudiated the decision, considering that it limits the rights of immigrant citizens.

“It is the responsibility of local authorities, namely municipal councils, to monitor the number of people living in homes and the conditions in which they live, but they should not exceed these powers, namely by requiring residence permits to obtain a residence certificate”.