Family of deported scholarship student accuses AIMA of inflicting “psychological terror” on their son – Portugal Resident

The furious family of 19-year-old Kauê Matos — deported this week after living with his parents and younger brother in Portugal for two years — are demanding that authorities reverse the catastrophe visited on their son.

Kauê, an outstanding student with an average mark of 18.5 out of 20, was removed to Brazil on Wednesday after being detained for four days at Lisbon airport.

He had been returning from a 45-day Erasmus internship in Cork, Ireland, awarded because of his exceptional academic record.

His parents accuse Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) of creating the circumstances that led to his deportation by taking around two years to decide a family reunification application — rather than the statutory 90 working days.

By the time AIMA responded, Kauê had turned 19 and was no longer eligible to join his family as a minor.

His father, Jones Matos, says the teenager endured “psychological terror” while being held at Humberto Delgado Airport, and was forced to sleep sitting on a bench.

“He had difficulty taking a shower. He had been there since Sunday without showering, sleeping in insanitary conditions, on the floor,” he told Lusa. “He could not sleep on the floor, so he slept sitting on a bench.

“He is a good boy. He is not a criminal or a terrorist”

“He is a good boy. He is not a criminal or a terrorist. He was returning from Erasmus with everything documented. He has a contract and is an excellent student.”

Kauê’s mother, Gabriela Matos, described her son as quiet, hard-working and popular with his classmates.

“Nobody can believe what has happened,” she said.

She also denounced the manner in which the family was treated at the airport, saying officials were hostile and provided little information.

“I understand that they are responsible for the country’s security, but they were extremely rude,” she said. “The little information we received was always given with anger. We were treated with great contempt. It was horrible — a terrible experience for everyone.”

School shocked by deportation

Kauê arrived in Portugal from Brazil in 2024, aged 17, with his parents and younger brother. The family settled in Figueira da Foz, where he enrolled at Dr Joaquim de Carvalho Secondary School.

He is now completing the 11th year of a vocational course in systems informatics and finished the academic year with an average of 18.5, securing a place on the school’s roll of excellence.

His results also earned him the Erasmus scholarship that ultimately led to his detention: border authorities stopped him on Sunday as he returned from Ireland and discovered that he did not hold a valid Portuguese residence permit.

“He is our student. He arrived here two years ago, in the 10th year, and is now finishing the 11th,” school director Marta Pena told Lusa. “If everything proceeds normally, he will continue here next year in the 12th year.”

She stressed that Kauê had been chosen for Erasmus specifically because of his academic performance.

“All the documents needed for his departure were gathered without any problem. Everything was organised, and he stayed there for 45 days,” she said.

Two teachers travelled to Lisbon airport to support Kauê and his family after he was refused entry.

“All the indications we have regarding the family and the student are extremely positive,” Pena said. “We did not expect this outcome.”

AIMA delay proved decisive

When the Matos family arrived from Brazil, Kauê’s parents applied for residence under the former “expression of interest” procedure, intending subsequently to seek family reunification for their son, who was still a minor.

According to their lawyer, Renato Teixeira, AIMA took around two years to reach a decision. By then, Kauê was 19 and had lost the right to qualify for reunification as a minor.

His alternative was to apply for a student residence permit. But Teixeira said AIMA had removed that option from its online platform, leaving applicants with little choice but to go to court to secure an appointment.

Kauê’s parents could not afford a lawyer and spent months unsuccessfully attempting to contact AIMA by telephone and email.

They finally contacted Teixeira on Monday, after their son had been detained at the airport. He immediately brought an action seeking to compel AIMA to schedule an appointment, followed by an injunction intended to halt the removal.

The border inspector responsible reportedly delayed Kauê’s deportation, allowing several flights to Brazil to leave without him while awaiting a court decision.

But no ruling arrived in time.

Four days after returning from the Erasmus placement he had won through academic excellence, Kauê was placed on a flight to Brazil.

He arrived at Guarulhos airport in São Paulo on Thursday and is now staying with his grandmother and an uncle in Ribeirão Preto — separated from his parents, brother, school and classmates in Portugal, and described as “deeply shaken”.

Source material: noticiasaominuto