Portugal President Vetoes Law to Tighten Immigration Rules

Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa vetoed the amended Foreigners Law, returning it to parliament shortly after the Constitutional Court struck down several of its provisions as unconstitutional, the presidential website announced.

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According to Diario de Noticias, the court ruled that measures restricting access to family reunification and limiting appeals to the Administrative Court against decisions of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum violated constitutional protections. One provision, by excluding a spouse or equivalent partner, could lead to the separation of the nuclear family of a foreign national holding a valid residence permit, the court found, Xinhua news agency reported.

It also deemed unconstitutional the compulsory two-year waiting period before a resident could request family reunification for all adult family members living abroad.