Mexico to demand visas for Brazilians to curb illegal immigration to the U.S.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The requirement is intended to discourage Brazilians from going to Mexico in an attempt to migrate to the United States by land – the border between the two countries is experiencing a migration crisis with a high flow of people, including Brazilian citizens.

The draft bill with the measure was published on Thursday by the Regulatory Improvement Commission (CONAMER), an agency of the Mexican government.

The requirement will be temporary, until migration flows are “safe, orderly and regular,” the document states. The Brazilian government has been notified of the decision.

“The Secretariat of Foreign Relations notified the government of the Federative Republic of Brazil of the Mexican State’s decision to temporarily suspend the agreement to waive visas in ordinary passports,” the text reads. The agreement had been in place since 2013.

The number of Brazilians using the border with Mexico to enter the United States irregularly has increased this year.

Through late September, 47,484 Brazilian citizens were detained by the U.S. Border Patrol, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – a 400% increase from last year, when 9,147 were detained in the same period. This is well over double the number recorded in 2019, when 18,000 were detained. Among the people detained by border agents, Brazilians are the 6th most numerous.

Starting this month, the U.S. began sending 2 weekly planes to Brazil with deported Brazilians, as opposed to 1.

According to the draft bill signed by the Mexican Government Secretary Adán Augusto López Hernández, the visa requirement aims to address the “substantial” increase in Brazilians entering the country for purposes other than tourism.

“Part of this situation is reflected in migration flows, with the identification of people whose profile do not fit the genuine tourist and present inconsistencies in their documentation and information, thereby increasing the likelihood that a significant number of people intend to unduly use the visa waiver,” the document notes.

The Mexican government calls for joint actions by the two countries to enable the “proper” use of the visa waiver. The measure becomes effective 15 days after publication in the Mexican Official Gazette, which has not yet occurred.

U.S. SENATOR CRITICIZES BRAZILIANS “WITH DESIGNER CLOTHES”

U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said during an interview that 40,000 Brazilians crossed the border between the United States and Mexico “wearing designer clothes and Gucci handbags.”

Part of the opposition party to President Joe Biden, Graham made the statement to Fox News on Wednesday, October 13, but did not provide any evidence for his claim.

“Biden’s policy choices are all over the world. We had 40,000 Brazilians at the Yuma border crossing alone, going into Connecticut wearing designer clothes and Gucci handbags. This is no longer economic immigration. People see that America is open and they take advantage of us, and it won’t be long before a terrorist gets mixed into that crowd.”