The IOM Mission in Paraguay, working with the authorities, has
assisted 5,181 Brazilian migrants living in the country to
regularize their migration status.

In the past nine months, mobile teams, made up of immigration
officers, consular officials, police from both countries, doctors
and other support staff, travelled to cities and towns in the
departments of Amambay and Alto Paraná to provide
information on the regularization programme, assisting 5,181
Brazilian migrants to regularize their immigration status in
Paraguay.

IOM staff accompanies the teams to oversee activities and to
provide assurance to migrants deciding to come forth and take part
in the process.

The regularization programme, carried out by Paraguay's
Migration Directorate and Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Relations
with technical support from IOM, is implemented as part of the
migration accords signed by members of MERCOSUR – a Regional
Trade Agreement created in 1991 that includes Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay and Uruguay.

It is estimated that between 150,000 and 250,000 Brazilians are
living in Paraguay.  Although the vast majority has lived in
Paraguay for decades, it is only recently that Paraguayan
authorities have begun regularization efforts.  The Brazilian
migrants work in agriculture, small trade and in the informal
sector.

The next field regularization exercises will take place in the
cities of Salto del Guaira, Pedro Juan Caballero and Ciudad del
Este.

For more information, please contact:

Richard Velazquez

IOM Asuncion

Tel: +595 21 490 689

E-mail:  "mailto:rvelazquez@iom.int">rvelazquez@iom.int