International migration policies in Brazil: A review of recent challenges and measures

International migration trends in the last three decades represent a major challenge to traditional conceptions related to this subject in Brazilian society. After a hundred years of history as a supporter of foreign immigration for rural populating and labour market strengthening, Brazilian State faced, after the 1960s, a period during which the country ceased to play major role in international population flows.

After the 1980s, a couple of new trends related to global migration issues challenged traditional conceptions about “desirable” immigration workers in Brazilian society and about the position of the country in the international context.

The first trend is the beginning of a massive emigration movement, in the transcontinental scale and also to neighbouring countries. A major challenge to Brazilian State refers on how to deal with this diaspora which means a new phenomenon in national history and challenges traditional conceptions.

The second trend is the reception of immigrants which are substantially diverse from those historically supported, that is, mainly from Europe. The arrival of South American, Asian and African immigrants and refugees forces Brazilian State to rethink the role of immigration comparing to former historical processes.

As Brazilian communities abroad begin to have an important role in political participation and the sending of remittances, it does not seem possible to ignore them any more. One focus of analysis to this presentation is the national debate on how the State should support them and react to their demands.

The other focus is the debate about creating a new immigration policy, which should be able to overcome the present legislation, dating from the military dictatorship, and strongly related to national security concerns from that period. Beside this, the excess of official bureaucracy is a major obstacle for integration of immigrants, particularly those from poorer countries.