Federal Government received another flight bringing repatriated citizens back from the USA

On Friday, February 21, the Federal Government welcomed 94 Brazilian citizens who have been repatriated from the United States. The group arrived in the cities of Fortaleza and Belo Horizonte and received humanized care at the order of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The action reinforces the government's commitment to guarantee a dignified and safe return to the repatriated Brazilians.

The services offered and this welcoming action are precisely intended to help us understand the demands and characteristics of each family and individual”

Janine Mello, executive secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship

The flight with the Brazilian repatriated citizens arrived in Fortaleza at around 10:50 a.m. on Friday. From there, a Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira/FAB) flight went on to Belo Horizonte International Airport, in Confins, in the greater Belo Horizonte area.

Janine Mello, Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (Ministério dos Direitos Humanos e da Cidadania/MDHC), coordinated the ministry's reception team at the Advanced Post for Humanized Assistance to Migrants (Posto Avançado de Atendimento Humanizado ao Migrante/PAAHM) at Fortaleza International Airport. Mello pointed out that, of the total of 94 passengers, 13 remained in the capital of the state of Ceará, and the remaining 81 continued on the plane to Confins. The flight from the US was made up of 75% men, nine children, and two elderly people. Around 20% were families.

"The service and this reception action are precisely intended to help us understand the demands and characteristics of each of the families and individuals. I am always concerned about not generalizing. These are very diverse cases, and we need to be careful when establishing the general profiles of these families. Some cases are of families who came back together. In other cases, a family member may have stayed in the US,” explained Janine Mello.

CEARÁ — The service in the capital of Ceará has adequate facilities, with access to water, food, power outlets, internet, and a bathroom. The location also includes a multidisciplinary team made up of social workers and psychologists, and offers support for referrals to documentation and immigration regularization services.

MINAS GERAIS — At Belo Horizonte International Airport, the reception was coordinated by the National Secretary for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights Bruno Renato. The Secretary emphasized that the Federal Government will not tolerate any type of human rights violation in Brazil. “We have respected the US immigration policy. However, once arriving in Brazil, the constitutional guarantees of Brazilian citizens will be preserved and ensured,” he stated.

We have respected US immigration policy. However, once arriving in the Brazilian state, the constitutional guarantees of Brazilian citizens will be preserved and ensured”

Bruno Renato, National Secretary for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights

Cinthia Miranda, General Coordinator of Emergencies at the Unified Social Assistance System (Sistema Único de Assistência Social/SUAS) — from the Ministry of Social Development’s National Secretariat of Social Assistance — also took part in the reception in the capital of Minas Gerais. “Those who are able to get to their homes by their own means are free to do so. For those who are not, Brazil is providing support and assistance with this transfer. It is important to emphasize that they are Brazilian citizens and have all their rights here, in the domestic territory,” stated Miranda.

In partnership with Belo Horizonte Airport, the authorities room at the International Airport was transformed, exceptionally, into a Reception Center for Repatriated Citizens. The structure also includes access to water, food, power outlets, internet, and a bathroom. Channels are available at the location so that the repatriates can contact family members and obtain guidance on public health, social assistance and work services, such as regularizing vaccinations and enrolling in the school system.

TESTIMONIALS — Upon arrival in Brazil, repatriated citizen Isabele Cavalcante reported the joy she felt upon receiving humane treatment from Brazilian civil servants. “I was very well received by the Air Force, the health team, and the Federal Police; they treated me very well. It almost made me want to cry. We felt very emotional because we were no longer used to being treated well. I am very happy and very grateful. It is great to be in my country again. I will continue to pursue my dreams, to work and study,” said Cavalcante. Rian Silva also shared his impressions of returning to Brazil. “We were well received at the airport in Fortaleza. The team treated us very well. We received food and a lot of support from everyone,” he said.

MORE FLIGHTS — On February 7, the Federal Government welcomed 111 Brazilian citizens who were repatriated from the US and also arrived in Brazil via Fortaleza. The FAB made a plane available to those who wanted to fly on to Belo Horizonte. The government provided a humane reception structure in both locations. Prior to that, public agents accompanied another flight with repatriated citizens which landed in Manaus on January 24; the following day, a FAB KC-30 aircraft with the 88 repatriated Brazilians landed in Confins International Airport, in Belo Horizonte, by order of President Lula, to ensure Brazil's security protocols.

JOINT EFFORT — The work of welcoming repatriated citizens is carried out by teams from the ministries of Human Rights and Citizenship; Health (Ministério da Saúde/MS); Social Development and Assistance, Family, and Hunger Eradication (Ministério do Desenvolvimento e Assistência Social, Família e Combate à Fome/MDS); Justice and Public Security (Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública/MJSP); and Defense [Ministério da Defesa/MD), as well as the Federal Police.