A long, dangerous journey

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A long, dangerous journey: Despite crackdowns, illegal
Brazilians still find their way to Massachusetts Thursday, August 19, 2004

Liz Mineo [ 508-626-3825 ] The Framingham Tab

FRAMINGHAM Á With thousands of Brazilians jumping the U.S.-Mexican border, federal officials say incidents like the recent discovery of a van full of sleepy-eyed illegal Brazilians in Boston may soon be commonplace.
The five Brazilian immigrants, who had been driven from Dallas, Texas in a two-day trip, after crossing the border, were waiting to be dropped off at several locations in the Boston area, including Framingham. They were discovered by MBTA officers who grew suspicious at the van that was parked at the Sullivan Square Orange Line for several hours in May.
For federal authorities the discovery of the van is a confirmation of long-held beliefs that the region is a prime destination in immigrant smuggling.
Already, the number of Brazilians caught at the border this year has surpassed last year's annual total, and with the large number of Brazilians calling Massachusetts and MetroWest their new home, many end up here.
A magnet for Brazilian immigrants, Massachusetts is the second state favored by Brazilians across the nation after New York and before Florida. There are an estimated 250,000 Brazilians living in the New England region, the majority in the Bay State, according to civic organizations.
Transporting illegal immigrants across several states is not a new phenomenon, according to immigration officials, but the discovery of the van in Boston sheds light on smuggling practices that have been bringing Brazilian immigrants from their home country to Massachusetts.
"We started seeing an increase in the number of Brazilians a couple of years ago, with the change of leadership and the devaluation of the real," {Brazil'national currency} said Mario Villarreal, spokesman with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington D.C. "The trend has continued."
As the flow of Brazilians has continued to grow, so has the number of routes to come here. In the past, it was common that Brazilians came here with tourist-visas and simply overstay, but with more difficulties in getting visas to the United States, many are now jumping the border.
In 2003, the number of Brazilians arrested along the border skyrocketed to 5,008 from 1,241 in 2000. And the numbers keep growing, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. So far this year, 6,489 Brazilians have been arrested.
Smuggling rings have become more sophisticated, according to immigration experts. Smugglers in Brazil with connections in Mexico offer a "whole-package" trip to the United States that includes guides to cross the Mexican border and a ride across several states that ends at the doorsteps of apartments of friends or relatives in Massachusetts or other states. The trip can cost between $10,000 and $12,000, according to sources in Framingham and federal investigators.
"Smuggling organizations offer a full array of `services`, similar to a travel agency," said Villarreal. "In the case of Brazilians, smugglers offer departure from Sao Paulo to Mexico City, and then to wherever the individual is going to in the United States. Those who are going to the Northeast use Texas.''
Immigration experts attribute the growing numbers of Brazilians coming through Mexico to a combination of factors. Among them is the fact that Brazilians are not required to have a Mexican visa, but the primary factor that drives Brazilians here continues to be economic upheaval and lack of opportunities back home.
As the numbers of Brazilians coming here grow, so do the numbers of Brazilians being deported, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 2002, the number jumped to 2,510 from 329 in 1997. Last January, 277 Brazilian deportees were sent back home on a single charter flight.
Nationwide there are 801 Brazilians detained for immigration violations, Reed Little, spokesman with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division under the Homeland Security Department.
Many in the local Brazilian community are aware of vans coming from Texas transporting illegal immigrants and dropping them off in Framingham and the MetroWest area.
In 2001 Ashland police arrested four Brazilian illegal immigrants after a streetfight between them and a van driver who picked them up in Houston, Texas. The men were arguing over the $600-per-person fee charged by the van driver. The driver was arrested, too.
The trip from Brazil to Framingham coming through Mexico and Texas is called a `pacote,' or package in Portuguese, according to sources.
"It's not new," said Marcony Almeida, outreach and education coordinator for Allston's Brazilian Immigrant Center. "We advise people not to come through Mexico and risk their lives."
But even if the fact that people come to Framingham through Mexico is a well-known fact in the Brazilian community, not too many people are willing to talk about it.
"It's not something people are likely to tell," said Vice Consul Josina Rodrigues at the Brazilian Consulate in Boston.

A long, dangerous journey: Despite crackdowns, illegal Brazilians still find their way to Massachusetts	Thursday, August 19, 2004
Liz Mineo [ 508-626-3825 ]	The Framingham Tab
FRAMINGHAM Á With thousands of Brazilians jumping the U.S.-Mexican border, federal officials say incidents like the recent discovery of a van full of sleepy-eyed illegal Brazilians in Boston may soon be commonplace. The five Brazilian immigrants, who had been driven from Dallas, Texas in a two-day trip, after crossing the border, were waiting to be dropped off at several locations in the Boston area, including Framingham. They were discovered by MBTA officers who grew suspicious at the van that was parked at the Sullivan Square Orange Line for several hours in May. For federal authorities the discovery of the van is a confirmation of long-held beliefs that the region is a prime destination in immigrant smuggling. Already, the number of Brazilians caught at the border this year has surpassed last year's annual total, and with the large number of Brazilians calling Massachusetts and MetroWest their new home, many end up here. A magnet for Brazilian immigrants, Massachusetts is the second state favored by Brazilians across the nation after New York and before Florida. There are an estimated 250,000 Brazilians living in the New England region, the majority in the Bay State, according to civic organizations. Transporting illegal immigrants across several states is not a new phenomenon, according to immigration officials, but the discovery of the van in Boston sheds light on smuggling practices that have been bringing Brazilian immigrants from their home country to Massachusetts. "We started seeing an increase in the number of Brazilians a couple of years ago, with the change of leadership and the devaluation of the real," {Brazil'national currency} said Mario Villarreal, spokesman with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington D.C. "The trend has continued." As the flow of Brazilians has continued to grow, so has the number of routes to come here. In the past, it was common that Brazilians came here with tourist-visas and simply overstay, but with more difficulties in getting visas to the United States, many are now jumping the border. In 2003, the number of Brazilians arrested along the border skyrocketed to 5,008 from 1,241 in 2000. And the numbers keep growing, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. So far this year, 6,489 Brazilians have been arrested. Smuggling rings have become more sophisticated, according to immigration experts. Smugglers in Brazil with connections in Mexico offer a "whole-package" trip to the United States that includes guides to cross the Mexican border and a ride across several states that ends at the doorsteps of apartments of friends or relatives in Massachusetts or other states. The trip can cost between $10,000 and $12,000, according to sources in Framingham and federal investigators. "Smuggling organizations offer a full array of `services`, similar to a travel agency," said Villarreal. "In the case of Brazilians, smugglers offer departure from Sao Paulo to Mexico City, and then to wherever the individual is going to in the United States. Those who are going to the Northeast use Texas.'' Immigration experts attribute the growing numbers of Brazilians coming through Mexico to a combination of factors. Among them is the fact that Brazilians are not required to have a Mexican visa, but the primary factor that drives Brazilians here continues to be economic upheaval and lack of opportunities back home. As the numbers of Brazilians coming here grow, so do the numbers of Brazilians being deported, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 2002, the number jumped to 2,510 from 329 in 1997. Last January, 277 Brazilian deportees were sent back home on a single charter flight. Nationwide there are 801 Brazilians detained for immigration violations, Reed Little, spokesman with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division under the Homeland Security Department. Many in the local Brazilian community are aware of vans coming from Texas transporting illegal immigrants and dropping them off in Framingham and the MetroWest area. In 2001 Ashland police arrested four Brazilian illegal immigrants after a streetfight between them and a van driver who picked them up in Houston, Texas. The men were arguing over the $600-per-person fee charged by the van driver. The driver was arrested, too. The trip from Brazil to Framingham coming through Mexico and Texas is called a `pacote,' or package in Portuguese, according to sources. "It's not new," said Marcony Almeida, outreach and education coordinator for Allston's Brazilian Immigrant Center. "We advise people not to come through Mexico and risk their lives." But even if the fact that people come to Framingham through Mexico is a well-known fact in the Brazilian community, not too many people are willing to talk about it. "It's not something people are likely to tell," said Vice Consul Josina Rodrigues at the Brazilian Consulate in Boston.

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