Justice restricts entry of visa-free immigrants into Brazil after PF report on human trafficking
According to a Federal Police report, people of different nationalities buy tickets to South American countries with a connection in Brazil, but do not board the second flight towards their final destination. Instead, they remain in Brazil and request asylum.
Refugees at Guarulhos Airport - Photo Reproduction / Jornal Nacional / TV Globo
The Ministry of Justice announced that, starting next Monday (26), it will implement severe restrictions on the entry of visa-free immigrants into the country. The measure aims to reinforce immigration control and combat illegal practices associated with human trafficking. This decision was taken in response to a detailed report from the Federal Police (PF), which revealed that the country is being used as a route by criminal organizations involved in human trafficking.
PF report
The document points out that the majority of immigrants who request refuge in Brazil do not have sufficient motivations to justify granting refugee status. Most of these immigrants come from South Asia and African countries, with the intention of entering the United States and Canada illegally. According to the Ministry of Justice, refugees are individuals who leave their countries of origin due to fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group or political opinions, or as a result of serious and widespread violations of Human Rights.
Illegal Immigration Route
According to the Federal Police, citizens of different nationalities buy tickets to South American countries, with a connection in Brazil, but do not board the second flight to the final destination. Instead, they remain in Brazil and request asylum. This practice is informally called "passport washing". The report also indicates that the majority of these applicants intend to obtain permission to enter Brazil and then travel to Acre, cross the border with Peru and continue through Central America until reaching the United States and Canada. In total, 70% of asylum applications are made by citizens of Nepal, Vietnam and India.
The National Secretary of Justice, Jean Uema, reported that between January 2023 and June this year, more than 8 thousand immigrants requested refuge at Guarulhos International Airport, in São Paulo. However, only 117 of these requests remain active in the National Migration Registration System, representing just 1.41%. The majority of applicants have already left the country or are in an irregular situation. Uema highlighted that Brazil is becoming a transit point for immigrant smuggling and human trafficking, operated by criminal organizations. Therefore, our commitment is to interrupt these trafficking routes.
New rules and Combating Illegality
In response, the National Secretary of Justice informed that, from Monday, anyone requesting refuge in Brazil must prove that they are being persecuted in their country of origin in order to obtain authorization to enter Brazilian territory. According to the Uma, travelers will be identified who do not have a visa to enter Brazil and are in transit to other countries, but who do not face a real risk of persecution. These people will be inadmissible in the country. The Secretary clarified that admission is a mechanism provided for in Brazilian immigration legislation and does not violate the international guarantees of refuge to which Brazil has adhered.
The Federal Public Defender's Office (DPU) argues that the absence of a transit visa requirement facilitates the use of Brazil as a route for criminals. Defender João Chaves notes that the country lacks an effective policy to combat crime while protecting victims, who are immigrants. According to the UN, immigrant smuggling is a serious problem, but it must be addressed within the principles of Human Rights. This means guaranteeing the rights of immigrants and combating the phenomenon by repressing the organizers of smuggling, the coyotes. The increase in the number of refugees in Brazil demands adequate preparation over the years, especially at airports.
