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Between October 2023 and January 2024, the number of Brazilians detained when trying to enter the United States via the border fell dramatically; factors ranged from actions by the Biden administration to the deterrent effect of Donald Trump's anti-immigration campaign.
In recent months, the presence of Brazilians in US border suffered a significant drop. Between October and December 2023, less than a thousand Brazilians were apprehended by American authorities when trying to enter the country illegally.
In January 2024, this number was even lower: less than 500. The reduction is attributed both to the hardening of Donald Trump's immigration policies, who already intensified his anti-immigration rhetoric during the campaign, and to the actions of his predecessor, Joe Biden, who tried to contain the migratory flow with alternative measures.
Stricter immigration policy in the United States impacts number of Brazilians
During his administration, Joe Biden created mechanisms to regularize the entry of immigrants through asylum requests — such as the CBP One application, currently suspended.
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At the same time, it expanded deportations as a way to contain the growth of illegal crossings, which peaked at more than 2,5 million in 2022.
These initiatives directly impacted the number of Brazilians trying their luck across the border, even though this route is not, historically, the most common for this population.
According to data from Migration Policy Institute (MPI), the seizures of Brazilians by border agents of the EUA jumped from 3.100 in 2016 to 57 in 2021 — a spike that caught the attention of authorities on both sides of the border.
In the same period, Mexico also began to record an increase in arrests, rising from 300 to 17 Brazilians on Mexican soil.
In response, the country adopted, as of August 2022, a visa requirement for tourists from Brazil, trying to curb the advance of irregular migration.
Estimates reveal growing number of Brazilians in an irregular situation
A recent MPI survey indicates that, by mid-2023, there were approximately 13,7 million irregular immigrants in the United States.
Of this total, 286 thousand were Brazilian, placing Brazil as the seventh largest community in this condition.
Furthermore, according to information sent to the US Congress, around 70 Brazilians were living in the country with visas that expired in 2023 — evidence that, for many, this continues to be the main form of entry.
It is also estimated that the Brazilian community United States exceeds 2 million people, although Itamaraty does not detail how many are in a legal situation.
The growth of the Brazilian presence in the country has caught the attention of researchers such as Gabrielle Oliveira, a professor at Harvard University.
According to her, although the border is not the first choice, many have started to consider it in light of the increase in tourist visa denials. “Most of my interviews show that Brazilians who were previously able to come as tourists are being denied,” she explains.
Trump's speech may be inhibiting new attempts
The practical effect of Donald Trump's tougher rhetoric against immigration appears to already be having an effect, even before a possible return to the presidency.
The firm rhetoric and history of restrictive actions may be acting as a brake on new crossings, including by Brazilians.
Although the data shows a recent decline, experts warn that the migratory flow is sensitive to political, economic and social variables in both Brazil and the United States.
And, as long as the search for better living conditions continues, crossing the American border will continue to be an option, albeit a risky one, for thousands of Brazilians.
With information from Folha de São Paulo.
