Tuesday the Brazilian government announced that t granted permanent residence to 43,781 Haitian immigrants who entered Brazil in the last five years, but could not legally be accepted as refugees.

This act of recognition, which authorizes and grants permanent residence to immigrants of Haitian nationality in Brazil was signed in Brasilia jointly by the Minister of Justice, José Eduardo Cardozo and Labour Minister, Miguel Rossetto.

This agreement will allow Haitians who entered Brazil by Peru's Amazonian state of Acre and Bolivia, to legalize their situation in the country and get the working document required by Brazilian employers.

"This regularization law grants a one-year deadline for beneficiaries to seek some identification papers abroad," said Miguel Rossetto, stressing that "This residence permit is very important because it prevents immigrants to have to first apply for a temporary visa and because it gives them a perspective of permanent residence so that they can live and enjoy all the rights of a foreigner in Brazil."

According to the Minister of Justice Cardozo "permanent residency offers to the Haitians of new job opportunities, social integration and participation in government assistance programs."

HL/ HaitiLibre