Portugal’s Constitutional Court has blocked a controversial bill aimed at tightening immigration rules. The law, backed by the right-wing majority and far-right Chega, would have forced migrants to wait two years before bringing immediate family members unless they were highly skilled or investors.
The court ruled it violated constitutional rights by risking family separation. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa quickly sent it back to parliament, now on summer break. Supporters say it’s about controlling immigration inflows.
Critics call it inhumane and accuse the government of bowing to Chega’s anti-immigration agenda. The government plans to tweak the bill to address the court’s concerns.
