Portugal to treat migrants as residents during coronavirus crisis

Reuters reports that all foreigners in Portugal with pending applications will be treated as permanent residents until at least July 1 to ensure migrants have access to public services during the coronavirus outbreak. Applicants, including asylum seekers, need only provide evidence of an application to qualify – granting them access to the national health service, welfare benefits, bank accounts, and work and rental contracts. “People should not be deprived of their rights to health and public service just because their application has not yet been processed,” Claudia Veloso, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “In these exceptional times, the rights of migrants must be guaranteed.”

Hat tip to Carrie Rosenbaum.

KJ