7/29/2019 Imigrao de haitianos

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Brazil tries to stop illegal Haitians fromentering the country

The federal government decided to apply measures to try to limit illegalHaitians entering Brazil. Since the earthquake that destroyed the country's

capital, Porto Prncipe, in 2010, the number of Haitians arriving in Brazil lookingfor jobs has increased.

Many are lured by "coyotes" (border-crossers) and enter the country illegally,especially through Acre. In December, Folha disclosed that more than 700 ofsuch illegal immigrants were poorly housed in a small hotel for 80 people, in

Brasileia (Acre, on the border with Bolivia).

One of the measures is to issue up to 100 visas a month for Haitians. TheBrazilian embassy will issue such visas, valid for five years, free of charge.

Haitians applying for the visas will have to later certify that they have "a stableprofessional activity" and a home address, as called for in the legislation inforce.

The Ministry of Foreign Relations says that this is the first time in the last 20years that the government decided to impose a limit to the number of visas.

Haitians who want to legally enter and work in Brazil today have to face a lot ofpaperwork: when requesting the visa, they need to certify that they have a job

or a job offer in Brazil.

The proposal has to be approved by the National Immigration Council, a branch

of the Labor Ministry, which will discuss the subject tomorrow.

After the measure is in force, Haitians that enter the country illegally and are

identified by the government, will be notified and have to leave the countryunder penalty of deportation.

The Ministry of Justice says there are 4,000 Haitians in Brazil today. Of these

1,600 are legal, and the government intends to do the same with theremaining.

"It's a way of recognizing people's economic needs. And Brazil obviously has a

human rights policy and recognizes Haiti's problem," said Minister of JusticeJos Eduardo Cardozo.

Cardozo said the government must help Acre and Amazonas in proving

adequate services to Haitians.

Another measure announced yesterday was the actions by diplomaticauthorities of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia to stop the illegal immigrants

and "coyotes". Cardozo did not give details of the increase in the number ofborder agents, nor how the work will be carried out.

Rosita Milesi, of the Migration and Human Rights Institute, said the measure is"feasible, humanitarian and constructive." She highlights, however, the needfor authorities to allow Haitians minimum conditions to stay.