Brazil Immigration-Trevino

Category: Immigration

Population: 186,112,794
Ethnic Composition:
White (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish)-55%
mixed White and Black: 38%
Black: 6%
Other: 1%
Birth Rate: 16.83 births/1,000 population
Death Rate: 6.15 deaths/1,000 population
rate of immigration: -0.03 migrants/1,000 population
Reasons for emigration: Emigration began in the late 1980s in response to the "lost decade" in Brazil-a period of high inflation, economic decline, and unsuccessful liberal economic policies. Brazilians from across the socioeconomic spectrum traveled abroad to seek low-skill work for more pay. The majority of emigrants travel to the United States, Paraguay, and Japan. Now, the majority of Brazilian emigrants obtain Mexican visas to cross into the United States.
Reasons for immigration: South and Central Americans make up 46.5% of the immigrants to Brazil. This is followed by Europeans (23.4%), Asians (15.5%), and North Americans (9.7%). The main reason for immigration to Brazil is the government's desire to attract and pay high-skilled employees.
Reactions: In 1981, Brazil established an immigration law that defined different categories for visas (travel, work, etc.) Recently, the government has been prioritizing work visas for visitors who have at least a college degree. However, there has been an influx of low-skilled immigrants. Labor unions, who must compete with these immigrants for jobs, have called upon the government to make it more difficult for new immigrants to obtain working visas. The Brazilian government is currently working to strengthen the common market in South America and create new alliances with other countries. This will likely increase the flow of illegal immigration to Brazil. Brazil is also experiencing economic growth, which will likely decrease the rate of emigration.