Roraima governor asks to shut borders with Venezuela

Suely Campos, governor of Roraima, a state in north Brazil, announced she filed a motion with the Supreme Court seeking to have the Brazilian government temporarily shut the country’s borders with Venezuela.

In a message posted on social media, the state governor says that “in order to address the impact of migration and protect the people of Roraima, borders must be temporarily closed.”

“The social and economic imbalance brought about by this strong migration wave into our state has not been predicted in any international treaty,” Suely Campos argues, adding that the “exceptional character” of the circumstances require “more strict measures.”

“Keeping watch over the frontiers falls under the responsibility of the federal government. I have instead that concrete measures should be adopted, but what has been done so far has not met the needs of the state,” she added.

The Supreme Court press office was contacted, and confirmed having received the motion. A decision should be made by a justice drawn at random whether a provisional measure will be implemented or the matter taken to a plenary session for deliberation.

The request was received with criticism by President Michel Temer. “I believe this motion does not have much significance. This is not like Brazil, to shut national borders. And I hope the Supreme Court makes a decision in this direction. To close borders is inconceivable,” he said.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira