Roraima state calls for curbing entry of Venezuelans again

The state government of Roraima once again asked Brazil’s Supreme Court for the temporary suspension of immigrants in Brazilian territory in a bid to mitigate the risk of conflicts “and possible bloodshed between Brazilians and Venezuelans.”

The new motion was filed this morning (Aug. 20) by the state’s Prosecutor-General’s Office after conflicts between Brazilians and Venezuelans in Pacaraima—a Brazilian town bordering Venezuela—led to 1.2 thousand foreigners rushing back to Venezuela, according to the Army. Venezuelan nationals were accused of robbing a local salesman. In response to the alleged robbery, residents torched tents set up by immigrants.

In the request, state authorities suggest the introduction of a “refugees’ quota,” limiting the entry of immigrants to the scope of the federal plan relocating Venezuelans across the country.

In addition to the quota, the state government also demands that federal authorities set sanitary barriers on the border. The goal is to make it mandatory for immigrants to produce vaccination certificates in order to prevent the spread of diseases under control or already eradicated in Brazil, like measles.

The request comes to reiterate a previous petition lodged in a bid to shut the border between Roraima and Venezuela. On August 6, Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber rejected the petition. In her ruling Weber, argued there was no legal basis for such a request, adding that it contravened “the principles set forth in the Constitution, Brazilian law, and treaties ratified by Brazil.”

President Michel Temer called ministers to gather for a new meeting on the topic, to be held on Monday (20).