Former US Border Chief Attends Portugal Summit on 'Remigration'

Approximately 500 politicians, activists, and influencers advocating for the mass deportation of immigrants and their descendants convened in Portugal for the "Remigration Summit 2026." The conference took place in the coastal town of Figueira da Foz, south of Porto.

Access to the event was strictly controlled, with accredited reporters barred from entry and confined to the parking lot. The summit primarily featured representatives from Spain's Vox party and Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD). Other prominent European far-right parties, notably France's National Rally, reportedly distanced themselves from the event, deeming its platform too extreme.

The term "remigration," popularized by former US President Donald Trump, has gained traction among long-standing proponents of such policies in Europe. Jean-Yves Le Gallou, a former Member of the European Parliament, remarked at the conference, "When the president of a superpower recognizes this word... it can no longer be said to be marginal."

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When the president of a superpower recognizes this word... it can no longer be said to be marginal.

Notable attendees from the United States included Gregory Bovino, former head of the US Border Patrol, and white nationalist Jared Taylor. Bovino expressed his pleasure in offering expertise to Europeans in their fight against "illegal foreigners who are destroying European culture." He also cited German General Erwin Rommel, a Nazi-era commander, as an inspirational figure.

Bovino's past actions as commander of harsh raids against undocumented immigrants in the US drew criticism, with allegations of law violations and fatalities among US citizens. He was dismissed by Trump following sharp criticism of his conduct during interventions in Minneapolis. The summit was co-organized by Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner, who gained attention in 2024 for a secret meeting with the AfD in Potsdam to discuss the concept of remigration. This meeting sparked widespread protests in Germany due to its perceived parallels with Nazi-era plans for Jewish extermination.

The event included at least three AfD politicians, including Kay Gottschalk, Lena Kotré, and Sven Tritschler. According to the event's website, Slovak MEP Milan Mazurek was also a speaker, alongside former Belgian MP Dries Van Langenhove, twice convicted for hate speech, and Eva Vlaardingerbroek from the Netherlands, a proponent of the "great replacement" conspiracy theory. Spanish Vox party members Rocío de Meer and Carlos Quero, and activist Sammy Woodhouse, a supporter of the British right-wing party Restore Britain, also addressed the attendees.

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I am very pleased to come and provide expertise to Europeans in the fight against 'illegal foreigners who are destroying European culture.'