Why Are Haitians So Welcome in Brazil?

First Published: 26th of November, 2020

Stereotypes are not usually a good thing, but in this case it is. And that is the stereotype surrounding Haitians in Brazil. Did you know that Haitians are the most welcome group of immigrants in Brazil? That’s correct! Brazilians absolutely love Haitians and welcome them with arms open wide.

Today, there are millions of Haitians finding refuge in the great land of Brazil, which, for many fleeing persecution, war or poverty, is sort of like the promised land from the book of Exodus – the land flowing with milk and honey. Every year, thousands of these Haitian immigrants acquire their Brazilian residency and citizenship. Upon arrival in Brazil, Haitians take up jobs in all fields ranging from education to manual labor and even attend university – taking up higher level jobs upon graduation. A good percentage of Haitians, upon arrival in Brazil, work in farms or ply the trade of selling picole – a sort of icicle made with fruit juices – while furthering their education.

But according to the general Brazilian population, there are two things that Haitians never do – laze around or commit crimes. Yes, that’s the stereotype surrounding Haitians in Brazil: that they are honest, decent, hardworking people who never make problems. And that’s why Brazilians love and welcome Haitians into their country. And it seems that this is one stereotype that runs across the board without exception.

In fact, there are today millions of undocumented Haitians in Brazil who are automatically given the right to work and study until their documents are processed. The police don’t check on them and no one turns them back. A Haitian only has to land in Brazil and he or she is in a safe haven. The Brazilians don’t even check the passport to determine the route of travel or if the Haitian landed legally.

During the early part 2020, when I was living on the border with Guyana and Brazil, I would observe flocks of Haitians sneaking across the Region 9 border into Brazil. They would bypass Guyana immigration by going through Tabatinga and climbing up the Takutu River Bridge, then drag their suitcases all the way to the Bonfim Federal Police. And guess what, the Brazilians would start processing them into the country without bothering to find out if they stamped out of Guyana.

The truth is, Haitians are welcome into Brazil primarily because Haiti is in crisis, but the stereotype surrounding the character of Haitians in general does help a lot. In the year 2019, while I was working with a law firm in Brazil, Brazilian lawyer, Dr. Helio Furtado Ladeira, told me, “Haitians are such wonderful people. They are always working or selling picole, and they never commit crimes.”

On another occasion, while traveling in Boa Vista with my taxi driver, Bruno, and we were talking about refugees and crimes, he mentioned that Venezuelans commit a lot of crimes in Brazil. Then I asked, “but I heard that Haitians hardly commit crimes. Is that right?”

“Haitians never commit crimes,” Bruno replied with flat assurance.

But those were not the only two times I had heard such reviews of Haitians in Brazil. I have heard the expression of similar sentiments in numerous cities in several states across Brazil. It’s a sentiment that pervades the entire country, “Haitians are good people. We welcome them here.”

Indeed, Brazil is one of the world’s most refugee – friendly countries. Arguably, Brazil has welcomed and helped more refugees than any other country in the world, but to Haitian refugees, Brazil is especially friendly.