#venezuela migration

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Lula affirms Brazil will remain open to receiving Venezuelan refugees

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Wednesday (Sep. 11) that Brazil will continue to welcome Venezuelan refugees. Speaking to Radio Norte FM in Manaus, Lula expressed hope that Venezuela would “return to normalcy,” alluding to the ongoing economic, social, and political crises in the neighboring country.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs [Mauro Vieira] has been directed by the Brazilian government to ensure that we treat those coming to Brazil out of necessity with the utmost respect,” said Lula. “As you know, human beings are somewhat nomadic—when they have no food or work, they seek other places to survive.”

“We must treat those arriving here with dignity, and the federal government is responsible for helping the state of Roraima provide for their education and well-being,” added the president. “We don't want these individuals to endure more hardship here after the struggles they faced in Venezuela.”

Continue reading.

[elmacheteillustrated]

Strangling Venezuela

[belle-keys]

💚 Juanita: a bilingual children's book 💚

This is a bilingual children's book, written in both English and Spanish, which is set in Trinidad and Tobago. I wrote this with three of my friends after working with Venezuelan migrant children in a few UNICEF-led programmes here in the Caribbean. Juanita is perfect for teaching your little ones Spanish and/or English language skills and about Caribbean culture! And there's a cat in it!

Juanita is set in Trinidad and Tobago, features Latina rep, West Indian rep, disability rep, and is great at addressing the conflicting emotions migrant children often experience.

Link to purchase as an ebook: here!

Link to purchase as a paperback: here!

[bopinion]

2024 / 23

Aperçu of the Week

"Shut up! I can't stand it!"

(Donald Duck, who so often speaks from my soul, turned 90 years on Sunday)

Bad News of the Week

Germany - and by that I mean society and politics - cannot find a sensible way to deal with extremism. Not with the right, not with the left - and not with religious fanaticism either. In Mannheim, a police officer was killed when he tried to defend the election campaign stand of a far-right movement (of all things) against an attack by an individual. A drama that shocked many. The attacker was an Afghan, who is unsurprisingly a Muslim.

Since then, people in Germany have been discussing whether there is a misguided migration policy or whether Germany has a problem with Islamist parallel societies. Unfortunately, this is grist to the mill of those who complain about foreign infiltration, uncontrolled immigration and a lack of integration. Which is all completely inflated. And of course "deportation" was discussed.

Deportation means that someone who applies for asylum and is denied it (for whatever reason) has to go back to their country of origin. With one exception: if they would not be safe there. For example, if they belong to a religious minority that is persecuted in their home country. Or is homosexual, but this is condemned or forbidden by their state. A few failed states such as Syria or Afghanistan are generally considered too unsafe for anyone to be sent back there.

Now this constitutional (and humanitarian!) principle is being called into question. Even by our chancellor. What I don't understand is the specific facts of the case. If someone commits a criminal offense under our laws - which the killing of a police officer, for example, undoubtedly is - they must be charged and sentenced accordingly by our prosecution. According to our laws. Does anyone seriously believe that an attack on Islamophobes that led to the death of an infidel system henchman would be punished in Afghanistan in a way that even resembles our legislation? Which would correspond to our moral sense of justice? Which could give the victim's relatives, friends and colleagues an equity?

Not me. Anyone who commits a crime in Germany should be charged and sentenced in Germany and serve their sentence in Germany. Even if that costs our tax money. We as a state and society owe that to the victim. To misuse this tragedy as a momentum for an exaggerated discussion about "the fundamentally evil foreigner" makes a mockery of the 29-year-old police officer who lost his life in the line of duty even after his death. He certainly does not deserve that.

Good News of the Week

Last week was a more than significant one for Europe. First of all, it was the 80th anniversary of D-Day. In other words, the day on which 170,000 infantrymen from the USA, Great Britain and Canada landed in Normandy with 5,300 ships and supported by 11,000 aircraft as part of "Operation Overlord" to finally liberate Europe from the fascist scourge of Nazi Germany. A historical event for which not least the Germans are grateful, as it paved the way for a democratic peace process in Western Europe that made the European Union possible in the first place - which absurdly exists today without the UK, but that's another story that not even David Cameron can explain.

Which brings us to the elections of the European Parliament, the democratic institution that represents the most people on this planet - because India (not only) in my opinion does not (yet) meet the criteria of a true democracy. Which, for Germany, actually went exactly as expected. With a clear victory for the conservatives (who are in opposition in the Bundestag), a clear strengthening of the far right (whose voters were hardly impressed by the scandals of the last weeks and months) and a rejection of the federal government (the traffic light coalition of social democrats, greens and liberals).

A few details. The electoral map of Germany is precisely divided into two: the conservative CDU/CSU leads in all western federal states, while the far-right AfD leads in all eastern states. The traffic light parties are losing 20% compared to the 2021 federal election that brought them into government. The Greens lose the most. Young people - including many first-time voters, as the voting age of 16 applied for the first time - vote for either small, progressive parties (high level of education) or the AfD (low level of education). This is a drama in itself, as it cuts off an entire generation from political reality. Voter turnout rises slightly to just under 65%.

But it is not all bad: the EPP (European People's Party, to which the German election winners CDU and CSU also belong) of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has won in principle. This is good, even if it will be more difficult for her to gain a majority in the future. Because she is an internationally established leader who is taken seriously in global political circles. Or because she is the driving force behind the "Green Deal", which is making the headlines less and less often, but is still fundamentally on track.

And above all, it is good that these elections took place at all. A democratic election for (almost) an entire continent. A continent that has largely understood that constructive cooperation in peace is to the benefit of all. The foundation for this was laid 80 years ago, when countless young men from faraway North America were prepared to risk their lives for the liberation of Europe. Thank you very much.

I couldn't care less...

...that there is now an action figure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called "Super Bigote" (super moustache). Such a ridiculous cult of personality can't hide the fact that Maduro is closer to a super villain than a super hero.

It's fine with me...

...that Italian opera has been declared an intangible world cultural heritage by UNESCO. As a "Friend of the Italian Opera" (yes, that's a reference), I have a few more suggestions: Parmiggiano, La dolce vita, Vitello tonnato, Ermenegildo Zegna, Aperol sprizz, Vespa, Caffé, Pininfarina, Chianti. And of course that inimitable way of talking with your hands. Viva Italia!

As I write this...

...I can hear crickets chirping. It still feels like April - it's wet, cold and windy. But this sound of nature, which reminds me of vacations as a child, gives me hope that summer will come this year too.

Post Scriptum

Death Valley is living up to its name: temperatures of up to 50 degrees were recorded in the Mojave Desert last week. And 44 in the middle of Las Vegas - never before has it been so hot so early in the year in the south-west of the USA. At the same time, the wildfire season is starting earlier. According to a study published on Friday by the University of California in Los Angeles, air pollution caused by forest fires in California has led to more than 52,000 deaths within ten years. The number of deaths caused by the fires is therefore many times higher than the number of fire-related deaths. Yes, the "consequential costs" of climate change, which are often concealed, also cost human lives.

[dserwer1]

Stevenson's army, December 4

– Administration warns Congress on need for Ukraine aid. – FT says EU also stalled on Ukraine aid. – Border security talks collapse – WaPo details divisive planning for Ukraine offensive – Sen Graham disses Sec. Austin -NYT forecasts more radical Trump administration – Venezuela moves toward annexation of Guyana – WaPo says US looks at bad options for Gaza – Drone attacks in Red Sea…

[dubiousdisco]

What is brazils viewpoint on illegal immigrants. Do they deport?

In Brazil, all immigrants have the same rights to education, health and work, whether they are refugees or not.

There are also some ordinances that provide for residence authorization for some specific nationalities.

ex haiti, venezuela, syria, afghanistan

There are no illegal immigrants. they may be in an irregular situation in the country, that being, not have an appropriate documentation for their situation. To live regularly in Brazil, you must have a residence permit. Not having the right document does not make a person a criminal, as this infraction is administrative. They will be able to resolve this situation and then be allowed to reside in Brazil. (source in pt)

The Constitution prohibits the extradition of native Brazilians and foreigners convicted of political or opinion crimes. Naturalized Brazilians can only be extradited for common crimes committed before naturalization or in the case of drug trafficking.

Deportation, provided for in Law 13,445/2017, known as the Migration Law, consists of the compulsory removal of a person in an irregular migration situation in the country. It results from an administrative procedure and is preceded by personal notification with an express list of irregularities and a deadline for regularizing the situation, in order to avoid deportation.

Also provided for in the Migration Law, expulsion is an administrative measure of compulsory removal of a migrant or visitor from Brazilian territory and impediment of re-entry into the country, for a determined period. What can give rise to expulsion is conviction for genocide or crimes against humanity, war or aggression, as well as the commission of an intentional crime, when there is intent, punishable by imprisonment. (source in pt)

Brazil has progressive and open immigration laws that allow migrants and refugees to quickly receive regularized status and apply for formal employment.

(Source in english)

Ministry of justice will restringe entry of immigrants without visa (in Brazil) source in pt

that's all i could find. there was a rise in deportation during 2020 (covid), 26901 when in 2019 it was 36. it is not usual.

the only personal experience i can share is that a lot of haitians live here in my city after 2018 and a lot of venezuelans arrive constantly, some start living here. and yeah never heard of them being deported from here personally

[biglisbonnews]

World: New network on Missing Migrants in the Americas aims to drive actions to save lives Countries: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico (The United States of America), United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), World Source: International Organization for Migration Thousands of people are dying crossing deserts, rivers and remote areas in the Americas - IOM Missing Migrants documented 1,433 deaths in 2022, the highest number since the project began in 2014. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/new-network-missing-migrants-americas-aims-drive-action-save-migrant-lives

[zvaigzdelasas]

[H]undreds of legal experts and groups on Monday urged the global community—and the United States government in particular—"to comply with international law by ending the use of broad, unilateral coercive measures that extensively harm civilian populations."

In a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, the jurists and legal groups wrote that "75 years ago, in the aftermath of one of the most destructive conflicts in human history, nations of the world came together in Geneva, Switzerland to establish clear legal limits on the treatment of noncombatants in times of war."

"One key provision... is the prohibition of collective punishment, which is considered a war crime," the letter continues. "We consider the unilateral application of certain economic sanctions to constitute collective punishment."

Suzanne Adely, president of the National Lawyers Guild—one of the letter's signatories—said in a statement that "economic sanctions cause direct material harm not only to the people living on the receiving end of these policies, but to those who rely on trade and economic relations with sanctioned countries."

"The legal community needs to push back against the narrative that sanctions are nonviolent alternatives to warfare and hold the U.S. Government accountable for violating international law every time it wields these coercive measures," she added.[...]

"Hundreds of millions of people currently live under such broad U.S. economic sanctions in some form, including in notable cases such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela," the letter notes. "The evidence that these measures can cause severe, widespread civilian harm, including death, is overwhelming. Broad economic sanctions can spark and prolong economic crises, hinder access to essential goods like food, fuel, and medicine, and increase poverty, hunger, disease, and even death rates, especially among children. Such conditions in turn often drive mass migration, as in the recent cases of Cuba and Venezuela."

For more than 64 years, the U.S. has imposed a crippling economic embargo on Cuba that had adversely affected all sectors of the socialist island's economy and severely limited Cubans' access to basic necessities including food, fuel, and medicines. The Cuban government claims the blockade cost the country's economy nearly $5 billion in just one 11-month period in 2022-23 alone. For the past 32 years, United Nations member states have voted overwhelmingly against the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Last year's vote was 187-2, with the U.S. and Israel as the only dissenters.

According to a 2019 report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a progressive think tank based in Washington, D.C., as many as 40,000 Venezuelans died from 2017-18 to U.S. sanctions, which have made it much more difficult for millions of people to obtain food, medicine, and other necessities.

"Civilian suffering is not merely an incidental cost of these policies, but often their very intent," the new letter asserts. "A 1960 State Department memo on the embargo of Cuba suggested 'denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation, and overthrow of government.'"

"Asked whether the Trump administration's sanctions on Iran were working as intended, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded that 'things are much worse for the Iranian people, and we're convinced that will lead the Iranian people to rise up and change the behavior of the regime,'" the signers added.

12 Aug 24

[trollexswife]

Information. | Context. | Summary.

Brief interruption of general content, I have to speak on this! I am from Venezuela, raised there as a child and forced to migrate to the U.S due to the torture Nicolás Maduro has done to my country.

Now because of the recent election, people in my country are protesting and pleading for help. Nicolás Maduro did not win, he committed FRAUD. He is a genocidal rich corrupt monster who does NOT care for his people nor the people of Palestine! Do not fall for his lies!! Anti-capitalist does NOT suddenly = GOOD!

These two are canonically Venezuelan, they are just like me and so many others, and I yearn to see my country and my family again. They have been starved and killed, I miss my home, please help and get educated!! Please read the links tagged. I am not well versed enough to be able to spread information, but please take a look through the #Venezuela tag. We need your help!!! Fuerza Venezuela! Venezuela Libre!!!

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil recognized over 77,000 individuals as refugees in 2023

Venezuelans account for 81.4% of all refugee applications

In 2023, the Brazilian government recognized 77,193 individuals as refugees, marking the highest number in the history of the national refugee system and a significant increase of 1,232.1 percent compared to 2022.

The data is from the 9th edition of the "Refuge in Numbers" Yearbook, released by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Thursday (Jun. 13), in Brasília.

Venezuelans accounted for 112,644 applications, representing 81.4 percent of the total applications processed in the country. The study also highlights requests from Haitians (5.6%), Cubans (2.9%), Angolans (1.7%), and Bangladeshis (1.2%). Additionally, there was an increase in the number of refugee applications from women, as well as from children and adolescents.

In 2023, the National Committee for Refugees (Conare) examined 138,359 applications for recognition of refugee status, representing a 235 percent increase compared to 2022.

Continue reading.

[tamamita]

The people of Venezuela are dying of hunger, and they are creating a migration crisis never seen before in Latin America. Maduro talks about the liberation of Palestine to cover up his own corpses.

Don't be a ignorant donkey like the most gringos.

In exchange for the killing and starvation of the Palestinians.

[indefenseofjoy]

Being Venezuelan is deeply lonely.

I suppose that being from any dictatorship or any country with a terrible conflict such as Palestine or Ukraine also is. But I’m only from Venezuela. So I can only speak to that experience.

You might be wondering why I am writing this in English. Well, because most people here speak English, and I don’t need to explain this to other Venezuelans.

So… allow me to continue.

Being Venezuela is deeply lonely.

Let’s start with the obvious, less controversial part of this statement. Most people leave. Over a third of our population has migrated. This means everyone, and I mean everyone, has many friends and family members living abroad. Many can’t return. Many can’t leave.  And until 25 years ago, we were the country that received migrants and refugees, not the one that produced them. So we are not emotionally prepared for this. I don’t even want to get into my specific situation. I’m sure it is not the worst, but it does isolate me a bit from my peers, even the most well-meaning and empathetic ones. And I’m sure it is not the worst one, but I hate it.

I also lived abroad for a year. Only a year though so I can’t claim to know the migrant experience. And I was lucky to live with my three best friends. But I imagine it is deeply lonely too.

Then let’s talk about the second, more controversial thing, but not the most. Living in a country with conditions such as ours is quite isolating. It is hard to relate to movies, to TV, to the foreigners you see in social media. Can’t find a film, TV show, musical… about living in hyperinflation, about a week long national blackout not caused by a natural disaster, political prisoners, exile… at least not depressing biopics or dystopia. Maybe that’s why I like Derry Girls so much….

And now the most controversial one. The world has turned its back on us. Our elections are stolen, our media censored, our children imprisoned and tortured, our indigenous people neglected and poisoned, a manmade humanitarian crisis…And whatnot. All of these because we are governed by a dictatorship, not some international sanctions. And some governments have expressed their support, but nothing goes further than that. And people complain that we are getting attention other problems should get, or we become jokes. We have to convince people that we are being oppressed, that we have the same right as anyone to fight for our democracy. But as we are not the perfect victim (and I could go on and on about that) we are on the receiving end of very dehumanizing speech.

And then you compare your situation to the USA were if one county in one state does something slightly wrong it sparks a global outrage. Then our entire country and its diaspora becomes the victim of massive human right violations, we become the bad guys.

And I just want you to compare that life experience.

And to top it all off, before you ask, I do have psychological assistance. And I’ve compared notes with other friends that also have the privilege of going to therapy. And our therapist are also going through this traumatic experience in real time. And they are sadly not well equipped to be dealing with this.

I am willing and able to help educate people on the topic of Venezuela. But tonight I just wanted to vent. So if you have questions or comments I will get to you, but maybe not right away.

[dserwer1]

Stevenson's army, October 6

– Politico surveys expert opinions on what’s wrong with US politics – Theda Skocpol sees the end of the Tea Party dynamic -Former CRS analyst explains power of Speaker Pro Tem – Democrats on Rules have their views – FP lays out schools of thought in US foreign policy In the news, Trump allegedly told nuclear sub secrets to friends – Max Boot says ex-generals need to denounce Trump – WaPo…

[dabiconcordia]

Longing Think of the blackpoll warbler. She tips the scales at one ounce before she migrates, taking off from the seacoast to our east flying higher and higher ascending two or three miles during her eighty hours of flight until she lands, in Tobago, north of Venezuela three days older, and weighing half as much. She flies over open ocean almost the whole way. Oh she is not so different from us. The arc of our lives is a mystery too. We do not understand, we cannot see what guides us on our way: that longing that pulls us toward light. Not knowing, we fly onward hearing the dull roar of the waves below. by Julie Cadwallader Staub