Out of Money, Vulnerable Brazilian Immigrants in Portugal Call for Help to Return

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Wednesday, April 22nd, a note from the Brazilian Embassy in Portugal confirmed what immigrant assistance associations had already been alerting: there are more and more Brazilians in this situation.

“The Consulate General of Brazil in Lisbon has received countless queries from Brazilians who are habitual residents in Portugal and who are apprehensive about their stay in the country due to the deterioration of the economic situation and the impacts of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic,” reads the text, published in the embassy’s official social media.

In addition to guiding immigrants to enroll at consulates in their areas of residence, the note suggests that those in serious vulnerability “should also seek the support of charities and organizations specializing in welcoming and protecting the underprivileged in Portugal”.

The IOM (International Organization for Migration) in Portugal has also noted an increase in demand for details on its voluntary return scheme. The organization, linked to the UN, provides an assistance service that buys tickets for foreigners who cannot afford to return to their countries.

“There are many immigrants in situations of extreme social vulnerability,” says Luís Carrasquinho, one of IOM’s representatives in the country. According to him, about 60 percent of those who requested information reported economic hardship with the pandemic.

Carrasquinho also points out that it is common for migrants not to have formal rental contracts for their homes, which leaves them less protected from threats of eviction in cases of default.

With the borders of the European Union closed and the cancellation of more than 90 percent of commercial flights between the two countries, the options for return are very limited. Many immigrants have shared moving reports on Itamaraty (Foreign Office) official channels.

In Portugal for just under a year, a Brazilian from Goiás, who asked to remain anonymous, says she currently has nothing to eat except for donations from the evangelical church she attends. A housemaid, she has been deprived of income since the implementation of the social distancing measures.

With the pandemic, the government of Portugal has regularized the situation of all immigrants with residence applications made up to March 18th, when the state of emergency in the country came into force, and ensured foreigners access to health and financial assistance programs.

Despite being regularized, many Brazilians are deprived of income due to the closure of stores, restaurants, hair salons, and maintenance and cleaning companies, which traditionally employ a large portion of this community.

Since 2017, Portugal has seen significant growth in Brazilian immigration. The rate of increase between 2018 and 2019 was 43 percent, rising from 105,423 to 150,854 individuals, according to the most recent data from SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service).

The number of Brazilians actually living in Portugal, however, is greater. Those who have dual Portuguese or other European Union citizenship, and those in an irregular situation, are not included in the statistics.

In a note, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that at the moment the repatriation priority is for travelers, primarily those in high-risk groups.

Itamaraty advises that Brazilians living abroad should follow local rules and says that “cases of helplessness” will be duly analyzed by consular authorities, which have assistance funds for emergency cases.

“In view of the higher incidence of cases of helplessness, due to the economic crisis that comes with the decreed measures of social isolation, other solutions are being examined, such as the organization of assistance networks, with the help of religious organizations, associations, Brazilian citizens and locals”, it adds.