High Commission for Migration

Overview

The High Commission for Migration – ACM (previously the High Commission for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue) – is the Portuguese public institution responsible for the managements of migration flows, namely throughout assuring the integration of immigrants and promoting the return of Portuguese emigrants. Because Portugal approaches migration and integration policies in a whole-of-government approach and in a holistic perspective, ACM – as the public institution integrated in the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – is responsible for interlinking different ministries to develop implement and evaluate crosscutting policies that targets migrants, including refugees, and Roma communities, and that promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue, combating all forms of ethnic and racial discrimination.

Brief history

Recognizing the importance of having a coherent integration policy for immigrants, Portugal created in 1996 the High Commission for Immigration and Ethnic Minorities (ACIME). Since then this institution assured the participation and cooperation of representative immigrant associations, social partners and State Services in the definition and assessment of policies targeting immigrants and the prevention of exclusion and discrimination. The institution has been growing its services and areas of intervention over the years and, as recognition of its importance, in 2007, its powers and intervention was reinforced and become a public institute with a new institutional name High Commission for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue (ACIDI). More recently, acknowledging the change of the migratory experience of Portugal (the country returned to a negative net migration since 2011) and the challenges of an ageing population, the institution was once again reinforced. Under the new Organic-Law of the institution published in 2014 this public institute was renamed to High Commission for Migration (ACM) and enlarged its mission and responsibilities, having now the mission to coordinate an integrated answer to the emigration and immigration (including refugees) flows of Portugal.

The High Commission for Migration is a public institute with administrative and financial powers, and pursue his activity under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

Mandate

Sectors covered

Private, Public

Fields and grounds

Other mandates of the institution

1

Statistics

Institution

Management and Appointments

Management

Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)

Procedure for nomination and appointment of management and board

The High Commissioner is, since 2015, chosen according to the evaluation of an independent body called CRESAP (details at http://www.cresap.pt ). The High Commissioner was appointed by the Government by Order number 8320-F/2015 (https://dre.pt/application/file/69901206).

Regional or Local offices

This institution does not have regional officies.

Accountability

National Ministry

Number of staff

Operating budget