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Haitians "invading" South America

BRASILIA, Brasil (defend.ht)-Forget North America, the United States and Canada. Many Haitians, since the earthquake of January 12, are trying to reach the borders of the South American countries like Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Residents of Brazil, the country receiving the largest number of Haitian immigrants, alarmed and call their authorities to stop the Haitian “invasion".

The situation of Haitians trying to get illegally in Brazil from the borders of Ecuador, Bolivia and French Guyana, is becoming more complicated and dangerous.

In Brazil, reports the Haitian Press Agency (AHP), many consider the presence of this wave of Haitians as an "invasion". Since 2010, following the earthquake, fellow Haitians entered illegally to Brazil without arousing great suspicion. It is only recently that the Brazilian authorities became aware of this "mass immigration" of Haitians who make the trip with a price and of their lives.

"During my visit to the Brazilian Embassy in Haiti for my visa, I met three young Haitians who explained in the very walls of the embassy how they undertook the journey. They arrived in Ecuador before being repressed in the Dominican Republic, "reported a contributor to the AHP agency in Brazil.

The trip cost them U.S. $ 2.500 each. They lost everything, but want to try their luck again, this time legally.

With the Dominican visa, a Haitian can go to Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. With this visa they buy their tickets in the DR. Arrived at one of these destinations, they pay smugglers to cross borders. There are those who spend days wandering through forests and dangerous areas before reaching the following States: Acre (Peru), Rondonia and Mato Grosso (Bolivia) or Amapa (Ecuador).

The trip can cost up to some 3000 U.S. dollars, not necessarily that they reach their final destination: Brazil. Thus hundreds of them stuck for weeks at the border between Brazil and Ecuador. Currently, the Brazilian government is trying to regularize the situation of those already in the country and stop along the "invasion".

The borders are now subject to strict control. And Haitians are not welcome.

The authorities of neighboring countries are also invited by their counterparts in Brazil to take steps to stem any Haitian who reached their territory with the aim of crossing illegally in Brazil.

The anti-Haitian hysteria is so great that even some compatriots who have a regular visa are refused by immigration Brazilian airports.

Since Friday, January 13th, a delegation of the Secretary of State for Justice and Human Rights is in Brasilia to register the Haitians who are there.

The mission of the delegation is to select Haitians and refer them to employers following the profile of each.

In the first stage of this work, 569 Haitians were registered, including 119 women, 444 men and six children.

The minimum wage is 600 reals per month = 335 USD, but just to eat a minimum of 30 reals per day is required.

Life in cities where Haitians will be is cheaper but there is no way for them to work. So they have to go in cities where there is currently construction for the FIFA World Cup (2014) and the upcoming Olympic Games.

But the problem is that the Brazilian working class is on its guard. Fearing that the presence of Haitians to reduce its chances of having a secure job and stable, hence the risk of conflict. While some questioned by the Brazilian collaborator of the AHP have said they favor government support for "immigrants". At the same time many others say it is essential to halt the "invasion". Still others advise Haitians to stay home because the situation will not be rosier for them in Brazil.