Reaction Of Brazil On Venezuelan Emigration

Brazil has also been a key player in the emigration of Venezuelan refugees. While Colombia to its southwest, has received the brunt of immigrants, Brazil as a southern neighbor has received its fair share of immigrant influx and conflict. It difficult to manage the migration due to the lack of requirement to have a passport or visa to enter from Venezuela. The migration has brought violence and disease.

Brazil’s president, Michel Temer, sent troops (including elite special forces and medical personnel) to keep order after violent clashes erupted along the border between Brazilian residents and the refugees. This was done as a preventative measure to maintain order as well as to ensure the safety of both citizens and immigrants. One of the border states, Roraima, is one of the key “gateways” through which the Venezuelan emigrants are transiting. As of August 2018, more than 700 migrants have been entering Brazil and the homicide rate in Roraima has become the highest in the country. President Temer claimed, “The problem of Venezuela is no longer one of internal politics. It is a threat to the harmony of the whole continent.” The border towns are asking for aid from their government while the Brazilian government is asking for aid from the US and UN. The authorities in Roraima, claim that “the federal government needs to do more to help them deal with the situation as tempers fray amid the influx.” Residents in Roraima are growing frustrated with the mounting violence and delinquency of the migrants. Migrants from the squatting encampments have resorted to looting and violence in order to survive. In one instance, four Venezuelan migrants attacked and beat a local restaurant owner, stealing $5,800. This led to Brazilian residents taking aggressive action against the migrants. They “set fire” to the Venezuelan’s shanties, clothes, food and other personal documents. To prevent more immigrants from entering Brazil, the vigilantes placed car-tire barriers in the middle of the road. The migrants have their own complaints stating, “Brazilian security forces were present but did not intervene.” Like Colombia, over 50,000 Venezuelans, have requested that Brazil give them official refugee status, or in some cases residency. This petition has received “pushback” from the Brazilian citizens and government claiming that the migrants could “spread diseases such as measles and malaria.” Although the Brazilian government has sent medical personnel to assist, they lack the manpower and resources to sufficiently manage the turmoil. An associate for Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America stated, “While the Brazilian military has extensive logistical capabilities, soldiers are not well prepared for humanitarian tasks, which has been evident on the ground there, Ramsey said.” President Temer visited the border cities and was able to access the migrant situation for himself. He ended up offering funds ($20 million) as well as field hospital to mitigate the crisis. He “declared a state of emergency” as well noting that four of the allocated shelters were at capacity with 40,000 migrants residing in one of the cities. He cited as part of the decree and “imminent danger to health and sanitation.”

While the Brazilian government wants to “treat the newcomers as Brazilian citizens,” the tension has led to an increase of military presence along the border. The Brazilian government has been more humane (compared to Colombia) in their approach to the migrants, but some feel that they are relying more on the strong military arm instead of utilizing civilian agencies that could be of greater assistance.