Migration Crisis in Brazil and Treatment of Venezuelan Migrants

Abstract

The events around, and the outcome from, Venezuelas’ migratory flow to Brazil has caused an unstable scenario, one that has been described among a sector of Brazilian society as a “migration crisis.” The idea that an alleged migration crisis will endure and become permanent has generated fear, something echoed by media sources and politicians. In this chapter I approach the category of migration crisis from the position that crisis means a breakdown of “normal” relations and patterns, of the proper operation of rules and structures in society: in this case, those which apply to the reception and handling of migrants. This breakdown is linked to the upsurge of ideas around the world about displaced populations and refugees in terms of “problem” and “emergency”. The notion of migration crisis has its roots in a profoundly Eurocentric system of domination, which considers Western values as universal. In the specific context of my analysis, Latin America and Brazil are part of this value system. My research objective is to analyze how the political emphasis placed on the idea of crisis enables the adoption and practice of emergency measures while concealing the continuity of routine immigration control practices. In this investigation I use qualitative research tools, mainly personal interviews. Data also come from a review of specialized literature (i.e., periodicals), government websites, and civil organization reports.