Record in Brazilian deportations last year

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Record in Brazilian deportations last year Thursday, June 10, 2004

Claudia Torrens / News Staff Writer Metrowest Daily News

A record 121 Brazilians in New England were deported last year, a spokesman for the Brazilian Consulate in Boston said yesterday.
And the figure, which is five times larger than in 2000, only represents the number of Brazilians sent to the consulate before being deported to their home country.
Andre Baker Meio, the Brazilian deputy consul, said those being deported who have passports are sent directly to Brazil "without coming to the office."
In 2000, only 24 Brazilians in New England were deported through the consulate. One year later, the number increased to 30, and in 2002, there were 104 Brazilians sent out of the United States.
"There is a major concern in reinforcing security measures. There is a more active enforcement and also a larger concentration of Brazilians in the area," said Meio. "We don't think it is because Brazilians have been targeted."
Immigration law enforcement was tightened after the Sept. 11 attacks. The number of deportations of all immigrants in New England has increased from 818 in 2000 to 1,414 in 2002.
Vinia Loivia, owner of a Brazilian clothing and cosmetic store in downtown Framingham, does not think Brazilians have been targeted by law enforcement officers, but admits a "common fear" among the community since Sept. 11.
"It's much more difficult to apply for a visa right now, and it's much harder to obtain it than before," said Loivia. "People are afraid, but not only Brazilians, all immigrants."
Ilma Paixao, president of the Brazilian American Association in Framingham, is surprised by the numbers.
"I did not know (the number was) so high," Paixao said in a telephone interview.
"This continues to be a result from Sept 11. It is getting tougher to obtain a Social Security number, then people drive without driving licenses, then they get arrested. Always is one thing that leads to another."
For the president of the local community organization focused on helping Brazilians, police enforcement and immigration issues were two different things years ago.
"But I feel immigration is becoming a political issue now," Paixao said.
Brazilians are among the top groups to be deported, according to Paula Grenier, spokeswoman of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Grenier, however, denied the targeting of any specific nationality.
"Our job is to enforce immigration laws," said Grenier. "The increase in Brazilian deportation has to do with migration patterns. There is a strong representation of Brazilians in New England, above all in the MetroWest area. The deportations will take place only if there is a violation of immigration laws."
For some Brazilians, though, the issue is becoming a suspicious problem.
Fausto Mendes Da Rocha, executive director of the Brazilian Immigrant Center in Allston, said that it looks like Brazilians have become a more common target of the raids to capture illegal immigrants.
"You don't see immigration officers go after Chinese or Argentinian immigrants. I feel we are still unprotected. Brazilians here are still looking for ways to survive," said Da Rocha in a telephone interview.
There are approximately 150,000 Brazilians in Massachusetts, according to the Brazilian Consulate, but community organizations put the figure at between 200,000 and 230,000.
There are approximately 6,000 Brazilians in MetroWest, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but it could be more than 10,000, according to local community organizations.
"I think we need to keep a positive attitude," said Zelza Neto, a Brazilian business owner in downtown Framingham. "What can we do, just pray for the ones we love and still live in fear because they are illegal."

Record in Brazilian deportations last year	Thursday, June 10, 2004
Claudia Torrens / News Staff Writer	Metrowest Daily News
A record 121 Brazilians in New England were deported last year, a spokesman for the Brazilian Consulate in Boston said yesterday. And the figure, which is five times larger than in 2000, only represents the number of Brazilians sent to the consulate before being deported to their home country. Andre Baker Meio, the Brazilian deputy consul, said those being deported who have passports are sent directly to Brazil "without coming to the office." In 2000, only 24 Brazilians in New England were deported through the consulate. One year later, the number increased to 30, and in 2002, there were 104 Brazilians sent out of the United States. "There is a major concern in reinforcing security measures. There is a more active enforcement and also a larger concentration of Brazilians in the area," said Meio. "We don't think it is because Brazilians have been targeted." Immigration law enforcement was tightened after the Sept. 11 attacks. The number of deportations of all immigrants in New England has increased from 818 in 2000 to 1,414 in 2002. Vinia Loivia, owner of a Brazilian clothing and cosmetic store in downtown Framingham, does not think Brazilians have been targeted by law enforcement officers, but admits a "common fear" among the community since Sept. 11. "It's much more difficult to apply for a visa right now, and it's much harder to obtain it than before," said Loivia. "People are afraid, but not only Brazilians, all immigrants." Ilma Paixao, president of the Brazilian American Association in Framingham, is surprised by the numbers. "I did not know (the number was) so high," Paixao said in a telephone interview. "This continues to be a result from Sept 11. It is getting tougher to obtain a Social Security number, then people drive without driving licenses, then they get arrested. Always is one thing that leads to another." For the president of the local community organization focused on helping Brazilians, police enforcement and immigration issues were two different things years ago. "But I feel immigration is becoming a political issue now," Paixao said. Brazilians are among the top groups to be deported, according to Paula Grenier, spokeswoman of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Grenier, however, denied the targeting of any specific nationality. "Our job is to enforce immigration laws," said Grenier. "The increase in Brazilian deportation has to do with migration patterns. There is a strong representation of Brazilians in New England, above all in the MetroWest area. The deportations will take place only if there is a violation of immigration laws." For some Brazilians, though, the issue is becoming a suspicious problem. Fausto Mendes Da Rocha, executive director of the Brazilian Immigrant Center in Allston, said that it looks like Brazilians have become a more common target of the raids to capture illegal immigrants. "You don't see immigration officers go after Chinese or Argentinian immigrants. I feel we are still unprotected. Brazilians here are still looking for ways to survive," said Da Rocha in a telephone interview. There are approximately 150,000 Brazilians in Massachusetts, according to the Brazilian Consulate, but community organizations put the figure at between 200,000 and 230,000. There are approximately 6,000 Brazilians in MetroWest, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but it could be more than 10,000, according to local community organizations. "I think we need to keep a positive attitude," said Zelza Neto, a Brazilian business owner in downtown Framingham. "What can we do, just pray for the ones we love and still live in fear because they are illegal."

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