Brazil has been offering a place of refuge for growing numbers of illegal migrants who are seeking a better life or escaping persecution.
While European countries are desperately trying to cope with the influx of migrants, those who reach the north-west corner of Brazil are being accepted.
The spot, Rio Branco in the state of Acre, practically touches the border of Bolivia and is more than 3,000 kilometres from the capital Brasília.
An informal, bilateral understanding between Brazil and Haiti kick-started the town as a place willing to take migrants. In 2010, Brazil put Rio Branco on the map as a place where victims of the earthquake in Haiti could go.
Word spread and others from Central America joined the Haitians, followed by people from West Africa. Many try to claim asylum as refugees, but nearly all are recognised as economic migrants.
Now more than 100 individuals a day arrive at Rio Branco’s migrant holding centre. The centre has already taken in more than 20,000 from Haiti alone. Everyone is fed and given a mattress for sleeping.
Brazil has permitted the migrants’ arrival because the booming economy in recent years demanded their labour. Work permits and temporary one-year visas have been issued to the majority; some only two weeks after the migrant has arrived.
With these papers, migrants can move around the country to live and work. Many head for Rio Grande so Sul and Santa Catarina where they hope to earn subsistence pay in agriculture and factories.
Official figures state that migrants compose less than 1% of Brazil’s population.
Comments
The UK has swiftly and professionally accepted tens of thousands of Portuguese. They have every advantage of starting a business or contributing effectively to the UK economy and there is not the slightest indication that this is extra competition.
Anyone delaying or obstructing a Portuguese would be liable to punishment.
Compare this then with the 30 year abysmal failure of the Portuguese administration to integrate the British into this economy. Just because of a childish spat 130 years ago.
Can you find a legal, licensed all British owned business in Portugal ? Trading all year round i.e. not just seasonal apartment letting.
Not in anyway a 'business partnership' or a mixed race couple - why should a Brit. have to pair up with or marry a local ? Fully - not incorrectly licensed.
Simply correct - as a Portuguese would be in the UK??? Read this,Barosso !