Mexico to impose visa requirement for Brazilians to curb surge in people trafficking

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Government of Mexico announced the temporary suspension of visa exemption for passengers coming from Brazil, denouncing an increase in the illegal traffic of people from that country.

Immediately, Jair Bolsonaro’s administration assured that it respects Mexican sovereignty but warned that it is studying the application of reciprocity measures.

Last Friday (November 26), the Mexican government announced that it would temporarily suspend the agreement that Brazilian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement for ordinary passports. As explained, the decision is based on the increase in the illicit traffic of people from that country.

According to the information provided, the measure will take effect on December 11 and, as stated, “is due to the increase in irregular flows and to the fact that, regrettably, criminal groups profit, based on deceit, from the interest of Brazilian nationals to migrate irregularly to the U.S. through Mexico”.

A similar measure was taken by Mexico in August for Ecuadorean citizens.

Just one day later (Saturday 27), Brazil reacted. Jair Bolsonaro’s government, through its Foreign Ministry, assured that it respects the decision of the Mexican authorities to suspend the visa exemption for Brazilians.

Although it trusts that the measure is temporary, it warned that it is also studying the application of a reciprocity principle with visitors from Mexico. “Brazil is studying the application of reciprocity proportional to the Mexican measure,” he said.

Brazil and Mexico were two countries that practically did not close their airspace during the pandemic, so their flow of tourist and corporate travelers was recovering rapidly along with the increase in connectivity. This measure and its possible response could put a brake on this reactivation process.

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