São Paulo mayor signs municipal immigration law

New legislation strengthens public policies already in place in the city

The mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad, signed yesterday, July 7, the law that creates the Municipal Immigration Policy. In practice, the new legislation turns the initiatives that were already being taken by the municipal government for the inclusion and non-discrimination of immigrants into official policy. The law was unanimously approved by the municipal legislature on June 21. The announcement of the signing was made at the opening of the World Forum on Migrations, which is being held in São Paulo from July 7-10.

In addition to establishing human rights, equality, the combat of xenophobia and racism, and the promotion of social rights as underlying principles of the municipal policy, the new law also creates the Municipal Immigration Council, which will oversee the compliance of the initiatives. The law was supported by civil society organizations that work with the topic.

• Click here to read the joint letter sent to the municipal legislators by 12 human rights organizations in support of the law.

According to Camila Asano, coordinator of the Foreign Policy program at Conectas, the new law represents progress for the city with the most immigrants in Brazil. “The law is important because it crystallizes initiatives that required the political will of whoever was head of the municipal government,” she said. “It is now urgent to substitute the Foreigner Act, which regulates immigration on the national level. This Act is totally incompatible with the human rights perspective established by the municipal law.”

The Foreigner Act, created in 1980 during the military dictatorship, is underpinned by the protection of the borders and by national security, and it places restrictions on the rights of immigrants, such as the ability to participate in demonstrations and join unions. It also criminalizes foreigners who have irregular immigration status.

Bill 2516/15, which would replace the Foreigner Act and establish human rights as the guiding principle of Brazil’s national immigration policy, is scheduled to be voted in the Lower House of Congress on Wednesday, July 13. The report by Congressman Orlando Silva supports the approval of the bill.

“The example of São Paulo shows that the country is on the right track, adopting policies based on inclusion and non-discrimination. We need once and for all to put an end to the idea that immigration is a matter for the police. Immigration is a right that needs to be respected,” said Asano.

#SUR23

Sur Journal, published by Conectas, released its latest issue yesterday with a whole section on the topic of migration and human rights. The publication includes a video essay produced by João Wainer, Lucas Ferraz, Isadora Brant and Bia Bittencourt on the successes and challenges of São Paulo’s policy for taking in immigrants. Watch below: