Brasil Revokes Temporary Residence Permits for Venezuelans

02/24/2017 - 11h21

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DIEGO ZERBATO

FROM SÃO PAULO

The Brazilian government revoked its two-year temporary residence permits for Venezuelans and citizens belonging to three other neighboring countries on Thursday (23) - one day after they were issued.

The decision to issue them, which was made by the National Immigration Council on the 14th, was a form of facilitating entry for those affected by the political, financial and humanitarian crises that have ensued from the Maduro regime.

Citizens from Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana would have also been contemplated by the Mercosul Residence Agreement, which was signed by the other South American countries.

According to the agreement, all citizens from those countries that signed it can enter Brazil with a three-month tourist visa.

After, they may request a two-year temporary residence permit, which will be automatically granted as long as they don't have a criminal record.

The Brazilian Federal Police oversees the proceedings.

The denial of the permits was issued by the Official Journal of the Union, and no justifications were offered.

The Labor Ministry issued a statement saying that Itamaraty, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was not consulted.

The decision surprised those who participated in the public hearings that addressed the opening of Brazil's borders.

Venezuelans with expired tourist visas will continue to run the risk of being deported. 450 immigrants who were detained by the Federal Police in Roraima in December are in precisely this situation.

Most of them are natives who belong to the Warao ethnicity who tried to make a living by resorting to informal jobs, begging and prostitution.

Brazil's Justice Department ruled out mass deportations after an appeal was made by the Federal Public Defender's office.

An attempt to throw the immigrants out was met with criticism by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, which requested that the Organization of American States take them in.

Peru was the only country to comply.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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