Brasília – The Brazilian ministries of Justice and of Labour and Employment have announced last Wednesday (18th) that residency permits have been awarded for 4,482 foreigners from 22 countries to live in Brazil. The foreigners had requested asylum, but the National Committee for Refugees (Conare) ruled against it, on claims that the cases did not fit the profile. Their cases were then passed on to the National Immigration Council (CNIg), which operates in tandem with the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The ministry will grant residency to the 4,482 foreign workers gradually, submitting the cases to the Foreigners Department of the National Secretariat for Justice, of the Ministry of Justice, in order for the permits to be processed.
The legislation sets forth that asylum requests from foreigners are heeded provided that they fear persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion in their country of origin. However, analyses have shown that most of the foreigners at hand came to Brazil seeking better economic conditions and employment.
According to the CNIg, foreigners are moving to Brazil in growing numbers, migrating for economic reasons. The council has also informed that the vast majority of them are employed, and have succeeded in becoming satisfactorily integrated in the country. At least 90% of these foreigners should benefit from the ruling.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
