The Local Centre for Migrant Integration (CLAIM) network continues to expand across Portugal, with a new centre inaugurated in the northern municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso (Distrito of Braga) on 30 January. There are now 156 centres across the country. 

The mayor of Póvoa de Lanhoso stressed the importance of advocacy by the 2024 Municipal Youth Assembly, which identified the need for the CLAIM centre. The municipality is home to 702 documented foreign citizens from countries such as Brazil, Ukraine, Poland, Pakistan, Venezuela, France, China and South Africa, who represent 3.1% of the total local population.

The president of the Portuguese Agency for Integration, Immigration and Asylum (AIMA) highlighted the importance of CLAIM centres as providers of support and information to newcomers in areas such as document regularisation, obtaining nationality, family reunification, access to housing, access to health and employment services, education, and voluntary return. The Deputy Secretary of State for the Presidency announced that the CLAIM network will continue to expand: “Documentation is the first step, then integration is necessary and CLAIM plays a very important role... it is important to welcome the culture of others, without canceling our own”. He also confirmed the hiring of 287 linguistic and cultural mediators, to support immigrants who are already enrolled in Portuguese schools.