Brazil’s Political Answers to Forced Migration from Venezuela

• In Event: The Global Refugee Crisis: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

Abstract

Brazil registered more than 100 thousands Venezuelans living in the country, more than a half of whom applied for asylum and the other half for a temporary residence card. This division clearly demonstrates the thin and blurred line between voluntary and involuntary movements from Venezuela. This study proposes a wider approach that considers the specificity and complexity of this forced migration flow to Brazil. Based on extensive interviews with Venezuelans, public servants and policy makers, the study analyzes (a) Venezuelans and what makes them choose to take either the path to asylum or to a temporary migration status and (b) potential policy responses to the movement. The aim is to evaluate the feasibility and desirability from a refugee perspective of the contrasting solutions presented by the two main agencies of Brazil’s Federal Executive power: the CONARE (National Council for Refugees) and the CNIg (National Council of Immigration).

Author

• Charles Pontes Gomes, FCRB and Munk School of Global Affaires