Thursday, August 22, 2024 Brazil is set to implement significant restrictions on the entry of certain Asian migrants, a move aimed at curbing the use of the country as a launching point for those seeking to reach the United States and Canada. The decision, which takes effect next week, reflects growing concerns within the Brazilian government and federal police over the increasing number of migrants from Asia arriving in Brazil, often with the intention of continuing their journey to North America. Starting Monday, Brazil will impose entry restrictions on migrants from specific Asian countries who require visas to stay in the country.
These restrictions will not apply to individuals from countries that are currently exempt from visa requirements for Brazil, such as U.S. citizens and many European nationals.
The move is a direct response to a pattern observed by Brazilian authorities, where migrants purchase flights with layovers at São Paulo’s international airport but instead of continuing to their intended destinations, they stay in Brazil and eventually begin their journey northward. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, the new guidelines will require travelers without visas to either continue their journey by plane or return to their country of origin. The decision was made following a federal police investigation that revealed a significant increase in the number of migrants using Brazil as a gateway to the United States and Canada.
The investigation highlighted that over 70% of the requests for refuge at São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport came from individuals of Indian, Nepalese, or Vietnamese nationality. The remaining 30% were from African countries, including Somalia, Cameroon, Ghana, and Ethiopia. The Brazilian federal police have noted that many of these migrants take a perilous route from São Paulo to the western state of Acre, which borders Peru.
From Acre, migrants attempt to traverse Central America with the ultimate goal of reaching the U.S. southern border.
This route, while known, is extremely dangerous, with risks ranging from human trafficking to exposure to harsh environmental conditions. In July, an Associated Press (AP) investigation uncovered that migrants from countries such as Vietnam and India were among those passing through the Amazon, often returning to Acre as they waited for more favorable conditions at the U.S.
border. The investigation underscored the complexity and risks of this migratory route, which has become increasingly popular among those seeking to escape difficult circumstances in their home countries. The influx of migrants has also created significant challenges at São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport.
Reports indicate that the airport has seen a dramatic rise in the number of migrants seeking refuge, leading to what has been described as “great turmoil” by federal police. The increase in migrants has strained the Brazilian migration system, leading to delays in processing and overcrowding at the airport. The federal prosecutors’ office has expressed concerns about the situation, noting that the high number of foreigners arriving on LATAM Airlines flights and the subsequent delays in their processing have put additional pressure on the airport’s operations.
Federal prosecutor Guilherme Rocha Göpfert emphasized the need for a swift resolution to the growing number of refuge requests to prevent further impact on the airport’s functionality. In response, the prosecutors’ office has urged airlines to provide basic supplies to migrants as they wait for their applications for refugee status to be processed. However, the situation remains tense, with Brazilian authorities under pressure to manage the influx effectively.
The Brazilian government’s decision to impose stricter entry restrictions comes after consultations with U.S. diplomats, highlighting the international dimension of the issue.
Local authorities in the state of Acre, which has become a focal point for migrants, have been particularly vocal about the challenges posed by the growing number of undocumented migrants and the involvement of “coyote” networks—human traffickers who exploit vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied minors. Rêmullo Diniz, coordinator of Gefron, Acre state’s police group for border operations, noted that the increasing number of migrants from a wide range of countries, including Bangladesh and Indonesia, poses significant concerns for local and national authorities. Many of these migrants arrive without proper documentation or with falsified papers, complicating efforts to manage and monitor their movements.
“The biggest concern for us is the potential for these individuals to be fleeing law enforcement in their home countries,” Diniz said. “We also have the added challenge of dealing with human trafficking networks, which are putting lives at risk and contributing to the instability in the region.” Brazil has a long history of welcoming refugees, and in recent years, the country has granted humanitarian visas to thousands of people from conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine.
Between September 2021 and April 2024, Brazil granted 11,248 humanitarian visas to Afghans alone, demonstrating its commitment to providing refuge to those in need. However, the current situation at São Paulo’s international airport has tested Brazil’s capacity to manage its migration system effectively. The surge in asylum seekers from Asia, combined with the ongoing demands from other regions, has led to growing frustration within the government.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office in January 2023, has continued the country’s policy of offering humanitarian visas but has implemented more restrictive guidelines for their concession. These measures are part of a broader effort to balance Brazil’s humanitarian obligations with the practical challenges of managing an increasingly complex migration landscape. The new restrictions on Asian migrants entering Brazil reflect the government’s attempt to regain control over a situation that has become increasingly difficult to manage.
By tightening entry requirements and enforcing more stringent controls at São Paulo’s international airport, Brazilian authorities hope to stem the tide of migrants using the country as a stepping stone to North America. As these new measures take effect, the situation at Guarulhos International Airport will be closely monitored, both by Brazilian authorities and by international observers concerned about the broader implications for migration patterns in the region. The hope is that these actions will not only address the immediate challenges but also contribute to a more sustainable and orderly migration system in the long term.
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