US, Brazil discuss ways to slow migration

Top diplomats from the U.S. and Brazil on Tuesday discussed the rise of regional migration between the two countries and ways to slow it. 

State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Franca on collaborating to halt the growing numbers. 

“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a phone conversation with Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos França to discuss the unprecedented irregular migration movements throughout the hemisphere, and our shared goals for the upcoming Migration Ministerial meeting in Bogota,” Price said in a statement shared with The Hill.

Price said Blinken also praised Brazil for assisting vulnerable populations of migrants, including those from Haiti and Venezuela.

“He recognized Brazil’s leadership in assisting vulnerable populations of migrants, including Haitians and Venezuelans. They discussed further collaboration to halt the growing uncontrolled flow of irregular migrants in the region,” Price said.

Brazilians have been among a recent wave of Latin American migrants fleeing their countries, many of which have been badly hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to Customs and Border Protection data, U.S. officials apprehended 46,280 Brazilian migrants at the southern border during the first 11 months of fiscal 2021, more than two times the 17,893 Brazilian migrants reported in 2019. 

Since 2004, Mexico has not required visas for Brazilian migrants, giving them an easier path to migrate to the U.S., Reuters reported, though the Mexican government has said that is set to change.

The International Organization for Migration last month asked Brazil to host Haitian migrants who were camped at the U.S.-Mexico border, Reuters noted.

Updated: Oct. 20 at 12:55 p.m.