Brazilian immigrant children reportedly well treated in US

On Thursday (Jul. 5)—the eve of Brazil’s match with Belgium in the World Cup—Brazil’s Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes and Human Rights Minister Gustavo do Vale Rocha met a number of Brazilian children and adolescents separated from their parents regarded as illegal immigrants.

Excited and enthusiastic about football, the children and adolescents said they were rooting for the Brazilian squad. They also seem to be well fed and dressed appropriately.

The ministers visited 21 children and adolescents aged nine to 17 at a Heartland Alliance shelter, in Chicago. They were separated from their parents while crossing the Mexico–US border.

On the same day, Nunes and Rocha paid a visit to another shelter, also in Chicago, where 12 Brazilian children were sent.

Release order

Also today, federal authorities in Illinois state decided to reunite another Brazilian family that had split after illegally crossing the border. The ruling led the government to let 10-year-old Diego Magalhães go to his mother Sirley Paixão after the boy spent 43 days in a Chicago shelter. The information was made public by a legal assistant in charge of the case.

After meeting her son, Sirley said she was feeling a great relief. The boy said he is fine, but had always wanted to reunite with his mother.

Sirley Paixão and her son,10-year-old Diego - Paola de Orte/Agência Brasil - Paola de Orte/Agência Brasil

Chicago

Chicago is where most undocumented immigrant children from Brazil have been sent—33, of a total 55 reported by the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.

The splitting of families from Brazil and other countries comes as a result of the zero tolerance policy against undocumented immigration, implemented in May by US President Donald Trump.

Rocha said the visits were aimed at helping to ascertain what the situation facing the children and adolescents is, and to decide how the government can help, taking into consideration what the families wish.

Tomorrow and on Saturday, the two ministers are expected to meet with ambassadors, and consular officials from the US, Canada, and Mexico. Represented in the meetings will be the consulates-general in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Mexico, Miami, Montreal, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington, in addition to the embassies in Mexico City, Ottawa, and Washington.