http://www.boston.com/news/nation/wa...ted_by_mexico/

Now, Brazilians have become one of the largest and fastest-growing categories of illegal US immigrants. They typically cross surreptitiously into the United States after easy, legal entry at Mexican airports.

In a statement, Mexican immigration officials said Brazilians now account for nearly two-thirds of all foreigners denied entry to the country. Over the first half of the year, 6,450 Brazilians were denied entry into Mexico.

''Thousands of Brazilians were arriving at the Mexico City airport with one-way air tickets, no hotel reservations or luggage. So they were not your typical tourists or businessmen," said a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Brazilians are a tiny fraction of the more than 1 million undocumented immigrants detained in the US-Mexico border area each year. More than 95 percent are Mexicans who are routinely and immediately deported back to Mexico.

But Brazilians and other non-Mexican migrants have exploited a loophole in US policy that enables them in many cases to avoid deportation even after being detained in the United States. Undocumented foreigners from countries other than Mexico with no criminal records can gain release from custody by simply requesting a hearing, which many later skip.

That loophole has spawned a boom of travel agencies offering packages to Mexican cities along the US border. A popular Brazilian soap opera recently dealt with the perils and romance of the northward passage.

The Mexican official said change on the visa requirement was taken on Mexico's own initiative. He said extremist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah had cells in southern Brazil, and his government was concerned that their members could try to enter Mexico.


This article is a year old so things might have changed but I doubt it. In my state we have a huge problem with illegal Brazilians. They have destroyed one nice beautiful cities. The quality of living went right down the crapper once the invasion began. It is so out of control now in my city and cities around me that it is like living in San Paulo. Is there any bill or act that I am not aware to change this rule of non-Mexican illegals with no criminal record to just ask for a hearing and be released? This is the most assine thing I have ever heard. I mean if they are illegal and detained they are going to skip and steal an identity and resume living under another persons name. There are a lot of laws and stuff I learn from you all so any info would be welcomed.[/b]