The report from the Ministry of Justice released on April 11 shows that the number of asylum requests reached a record in 2017. According to the report titled Refuge in Numbers, a total of 33,866 requests were filed last year, the majority from Venezuelans (17,865).
Under national law, refugees are people who leave their country due to political, racial, or religious persecution or as a result of serious human rights violations. Currently, there are over 86,000 pending requests for asylum recognition in the country.
In the last 20 years, Brazil has recognized 10,145 refugees. Of these, a total of 5,144 remain in the country, 35% of whom are Syrians fleeing the civil war that has plagued the country since 2011. According to the report, more than half (52%) of those who stayed in Brazil live in São Paulo, 17% in Rio de Janeiro, and 8% in Paraná.
Venezuela and Haiti
There is still no consensus on the approach taken for requests from Venezuelans and Haitians, explains Torquato Jardim from the Ministry of Justice, as these citizens are often treated as immigrants rather than refugees.
“The residence permit for people from neighboring countries to Brazil is a faster and simpler alternative for Venezuelans who want to live in our country,” said Luiz Pontel de Souza, National Secretary of Justice and president of the National Committee for Refugees (Conare).
Source: www.brazilgovnews.gov.br