Why Brazilians Prefer the US for a New Start

 In 2017, the number of Brazilian immigrants residing in the United States increased by nearly one-third over a seven-year period that was characterized by challenging conditions in Brazil, such as a recession, high unemployment, and inflation. Approximately 450,000 Brazilian immigrants were in the United States. Brazilians began to arrive in the United States in increasing quantities during this period. Approximately 40,000 Brazilian immigrants resided in the United States in 1980. By 1990, the figure had doubled, and subsequent growth ensued: The Brazilian population nearly tripled during the 1990s, reaching over 200,000 by the turn of the 21st century. Since then, it has doubled once more. Brazilians who arrived in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s anticipated earning nearly four times as much in the United States as they could in Brazil. Consequently, they intended to work for an average of three to five years before returning with their resources. Many individuals engaged in a pattern of "yo-yo" migration, completing the journey to the United States and returned multiple times.

Nevertheless, the recent changes in U.S. immigration law have made it more challenging for Brazilians to obtain tourist visas

A common method of entry that frequently led to overstaying and working illegally in the United States. Additionally, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 exacerbated the challenges associated with legally entering the country for individuals who had previously been present without authorization. These legislative modifications led to an increase in the number of Brazilians who unlawfully entered the United States through the U.S.-Mexico border. The number of Brazilians apprehended at the frontier increased from 88 in fiscal year (FY) 1992 to over 32,000 in FY 2005. In October 2005, Mexico implemented a visa requirement for Brazilian nationals to access the country, thereby disrupting the flow at the border. Apprehensions have maintained a consistent level of approximately 3,000 per year since that time. The Brazilian immigrant population experienced a period of continuous growth in the early 2000s, followed by a period of stability that lasted approximately a decade. The Brazilian immigrant population experienced a second surge between 2014 and 2017, which was indicative of the country's challenging circumstances, which included a 2013 recession that was accompanied by high unemployment and inflation. Currently, Brazilian immigrants exhibit higher educational attainment and household incomes than the general foreign- and U.S.-born population. Brazilians are more likely to be proficient in English and are less likely to be naturalized citizens in comparison to the overall immigrant population. The demographic characteristics and geographic distribution of the Brazilian population of foreign descent who are currently residing in the United States are detailed in the following sections. Brazilian American communities have become more visible and better understood as a result of the rise in the number of Brazilian-born residents in the United States.

Based on the 2017 data, Brazilian immigrants are marginally older than the U.S. born population and are, on average, younger than the overall immigrant population

The population is well-educated, participates in the workforce at a higher rate than the average, and is more likely to be proficient in English than other immigrant groups. 42% of Brazilian Americans aged 25 and older possess a bachelor's degree or higher, as opposed to 31% of all immigrants and 32% of native-born Americans. They also have higher household incomes than both foreign-born and native-born groups, as well as greater rates of participation in the labor force than the average. Service occupations employ approximately 25% of Brazilian Americans, while approximately 36% are employed in management, business, research, and the arts. According to a publication from Brown University, the majority of Brazilians appear in the United States with the expectation of obtaining employment for a period of three to five years. Many intended to accumulate savings in order to invest in housing or enterprises upon their return to Brazil. This is indicative of a "yo-yo migration" pattern. Brazilians in the United States maintain strong connections to their homeland and frequently travel between the two countries. According to data from the World Bank, Brazil received over $3.5 billion in global remittances in 2020. Some notable Brazilian Americans include the late vocalist and actress Carmen Miranda, the model and entrepreneur Gisele Bundchen, and Fabrizio Moretti, a musician and member of the rock band The Strokes from Rio de Janeiro. David Neeleman, the founder of JetBlue airline, was born in Sao Paulo and educated in Utah. Before 1980, there was a relatively low number of Brazilians who immigrated to the United States. The initial migration surges occurred in Brazil during the 1980s and 1990s, as a result of hyperinflation and impoverished economic conditions. From the 2000s to the early 2010s, the statistics remained consistent. However, a 2013 recession in Brazil triggered a surge between 2014 and 2017. Along the way, they have introduced their language, cuisine, culture, and other traditions from Brazil.

Brazilians have emerged as one of the most rapidly expanding immigrant populations in the United States in recent years

Immigration from Brazil increased by 32.8% between 2010 and 2017. The number of immigrants from Brazil increased from 340,000 in 2010 to 451,000 in 2017. Brazil was the 12th fastest-growing country of origin for U.S. immigrants during that time. Approximately 40,000 individuals born in Brazil resided in the United States in 1980. By the 1990s, this figure had doubled, and by 2000, it had climbed to over 200,000. By 2010, it had reached 340,000, and by 2017, it had risen to 451,000. The majority of Brazilian immigrants to the United States are from the middle and lower classes of Brazil, which is consistent with the economic factors that drive migration. Brazil's most impoverished and wealthiest citizens are considerably less inclined to migrate. Beginning in the 1980s, the comparative economic circumstances of Brazil and the United States attracted middle- and lower-class Brazilians to migrate. Brazil was undergoing hyperinflation, which resulted in a significant disparity between the cost of living and wages. This made it extraordinarily challenging for Brazilians to accumulate savings for the future. The wages for the same positions in the United States were typically four times higher than in Brazil, and economic conditions were generally more stable. The second-largest group of immigrants from Brazil migrated for employment opportunities, while approximately two-thirds were immediate relatives of U.S. citizens in 2017.