176 Nepalis Stranded at Brazilian Airport En Route to the USA Without Visas

The Nepali Embassy in Brazil has reported that the number of Nepalese stranded at São Paulo Airport is 176. These individuals were denied entry into Brazil after arriving without visas, intending to transit through Brazil to a third country. Nepali Ambassador Nirmal Raj Kafle informed NepYork that at least 50 Nepalese were stopped last week, and this number has since increased.

Nepalese often transit through Brazil from Turkey, Dubai, and Doha, purchasing tickets to a third country. Upon arrival in Brazil, they seek asylum and then attempt to travel to the United States or Canada without visas, facilitated by agents. The Nepali Embassy noted that this practice has been ongoing and has recently escalated. Ambassador Kafle advised Nepalese that if they are transiting through Brazil but intend to exit the country, they must obtain a Brazilian visa.

Those stranded at São Paulo Airport are reportedly being assisted by the respective airlines. Although none of the stranded individuals have contacted the embassy directly, the embassy is receiving updates from various Brazilian agencies. The stranded Nepalis arrived at different times via different airlines, primarily from Turkey, Dubai, and Doha on Turkish, Emirates, and Qatar airlines.

Currently, over 600 immigrants without visas are waiting to enter Brazil at Guarulhos Airport. The Brazilian government recently tightened regulations to curb the flow of migrants using Brazil as a transit point to reach the US and Canada. As of Monday, Brazil requires foreign travelers heading to another country without a visa to go directly to their destination or return to their country of origin. This rule aims to address the issue of passengers transiting through Brazil and exiting to the USA and Canada.

Upon reaching Brazil, these travelers often seek asylum, claiming threats and persecution in their home countries, and then attempt to enter the US. Brazilian officials have stated that travelers arriving in São Paulo without visas will not be allowed to stay in Brazil.

Many of the stranded Nepalese had paid large sums to agents to facilitate their journey to the US. Given that Nepalis receive on-arrival visas in Bolivia, agents have been smuggling them from Brazil to Bolivia.

Reports indicate that over a thousand Nepalese, misled by national and international human traffickers, are stranded in various Latin American countries, including Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, after being promised entry into the US.

This news has been updated to reflect the information provided in today’s press release from the Nepali Embassy in Brazil.