Hundreds of migrants from India, Nepal, and Vietnam have been stranded at São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport for weeks, enduring harrowing conditions as they wait to enter Brazil. According to the Public Defender’s Office, at least 666 migrants without visas are currently stuck in a restricted area of the airport, where they have limited access to food, water, and other basic necessities.
The situation has become increasingly dire, with migrants, including children and adolescents, sleeping on the floor in cold winter conditions without blankets. The Public Defender’s Office has expressed grave concerns over the deteriorating health and well-being of those detained, stating that their human rights are being violated.
Tragically, the crisis claimed the life of a 39-year-old migrant from Ghana two weeks ago, though the exact cause of death remains unknown. It is unclear whether he passed away while being held at the airport or en route to a hospital.
The Brazilian government is reportedly planning to tighten entry rules starting Monday in response to the influx of foreign travelers using Brazil as a stopover to reach the United States and Canada. Under the new regulations, foreign travelers without a Brazilian visa who are en route to another country will be required to travel directly to their destination or return to their home country. However, it remains uncertain whether these new rules will apply to the migrants currently stranded at the airport or only to those arriving after the rules go into effect.
Brazil has witnessed a surge in foreign travelers, particularly from Asia, landing in the country under the pretext of a layover before attempting to reach North America. Many of these migrants request refugee status upon arrival in Brazil, citing persecution and threats in their home countries. However, most ultimately attempt to travel northward when given the opportunity.
The Public Defender’s Office has called on Brazilian authorities to urgently improve conditions for the stranded migrants while their status is being resolved, urging the government to comply with Brazil’s humanitarian legislation, which is based on the principle of accepting refugees and not returning them to their countries of origin.
Immigration experts have voiced concerns that the proposed rules may conflict with the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, to which Brazil is a signatory. The convention obligates countries to offer protection to those at risk in their home countries, even if they are undocumented.
As the situation at Guarulhos International Airport continues to unfold, the fate of hundreds of migrants remains uncertain, with many facing the prospect of prolonged detention under increasingly inhumane conditions.
Sources By Agencies
