António Leitão Amaro highlighted the swift action of Portuguese authorities, "all of them, from the police who intercepted them, to the health and integration departments, who monitored them, provided hydration, and provided the necessary medical assistance, treating them with dignity, to the courts that ruled quickly and ordered their removal from national territory. And that is what will happen," the minister stated in Olhão.

When asked if any asylum requests had been filed by the detained migrants, Leitão Amaro responded that "at this time there are no asylum requests, and it's not worth speculating about the matter or their fate."

"What I think is important for the Portuguese people to feel and understand is this: Portugal has a long coastline, and despite our vulnerability, the Portuguese authorities reacted quickly and effectively," he said.

The minister emphasised that "there was a detection, there was an interception," the people were "identified by the authorities" and taken to places where they "could be treated," and all of this work was done "very quickly and efficiently," and "in less than 24 hours they were presented to judges, and the judge made a decision."

When asked about the immediate fate of these migrants, Leitão Amaro responded that they will remain "in the custody of the authorities" and "detained in a temporary detention centre or similar" until they are removed from the country.

"In other words, the Portuguese authorities acted. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Defense, and I have been in constant contact with the authorities. I would like to highlight the work of the GNR (National Republican Guard), the Maritime Police, the National Maritime Authority and the Navy, AIMA (National Institute of Emergency Medicine), the INEM (National Institute of Emergency Medicine), the Municipality, and Civil Protection. Together, we have been able to provide the fastest and most effective operation so far," he assured.

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Migrants with removal orders will now be temporarily housed in the sports hall set up by Civil Protection for this purpose, while other solutions are found in temporary centres or equivalent facilities.

When asked about how long this process might take, Leitão Amaro said he did not yet have an answer and noted that the government made a request to parliament last year to "allow for the return regime to be expedited."

“At the time, the majority of the opposition rejected this request,” he recalled, anticipating some delay but promising to “expedite these procedures as quickly as possible, respecting the rights and rules and the dignity of people, but enforcing Portuguese laws.”

A boat carrying 38 migrants landed on Boca do Rio beach in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, Faro district, on Friday, according to the National Maritime Authority.

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Maritime Police officers at the scene "found that the individuals were showing signs of poor health" and immediately provided assistance.

Of the 38 migrants, there were 25 men, 6 women and 7 minors, ranging in age from 12months old to 44 years old.

The alert was given at 8:05 pm and the rescue involved the GNR, the Civil Protection of Vila do Bispo, the INEM and the volunteer firefighters of Vila do Bispo and Lagos.