Brazil is sending its armed forces to keep order near the Venezuelan border following violent clashes between local residents and thousands of Venezuelans fleeing economic collapse and turmoil in their country.

President Michel Temer signed a decree to deploy the armed forces to the border state of Roraima following riots by residents earlier this month, who attacked Venezuelan immigrants in a border town.

He said the move was aimed at keeping order and ensuring the safety of the immigrants.

The situation in Roraima, where most Venezuelans enter Brazil, has become increasingly fraught in recent months - its homicide rate has spiked this year and is now the highest in the country.

As a result of the crisis in Venezuela, 700 to 800 Venezuelans enter Brazil every day, and President Temer also said that the authorities were discussing limiting that to between 100 and 200 as the border state struggles to cope with the influx fleeing the turmoil in Venezuela.