At least 666 Asian migrants, composed of Indian, Nepalese, and Vietnamese, have been held at Sao Paulo International Airport in Brazil, waiting to be allowed entry into the country without valid visas, as stated by a news agency. These migrants, who are fleeing to Brazil in search of asylum, are currently restricted within the airport terminal under what could be described as deplorable conditions. Some of them are supposedly forced to sleep on the floor without access to food, water, blankets, and other essentials; a Public Defender’s Office disclosed this. This is even worse for children in the group as they are also experiencing such conditions that can be considered severe.
The spokesperson also pointed out a worsening situation of the migrants and quoted the death of a Ghanaian migrant two weeks back. The circumstances of his death are still not clear whether he died at the airport where he was detained or when he was being taken to the hospital. This brings into question the wellbeing of people who are stuck.
In response to this crisis, the Public Defender’s Office has urged the Brazilian authorities to obey Brazilian legal norms, which dictate a better approach: accepting refugees rather than sending them back to their countries. This appeal is quite relevant, especially when the Brazilian government plans to place new measures on new arrivals of some of Asian immigrants. As of next Monday, these new rules will affect migrants who seek asylum in Brazil while they plan to travel to the United States and Canada.
The following restrictions will mainly affect Sao Paulo International Airport, through which most Asian immigrants travel for flights with layovers. Nevertheless, most of them do not board flights to other countries but instead stay back in Brazil and seek asylum. Jean Uema, president of the Brazilian Commission for Refugees, remarks that while implementing these rules shall impact the airport the policy on asylum in Brazil is still the same. Still, it came at such a last moment. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the new regulations apply to the migrants stuck at the airport.
Check here for the latest updates in Hindi!