The Color of Asylum: The Racial Politics of Safe Haven in Brazil

Katherine Jensen's ethnography of the difficult experiences of refugees in Brazil, "The Color of Asylum," explores the reasons why Brazil offered asylum to all Syrian refugees and the different treatment they receive compared to other refugee populations. She focuses on two largest and most successful groups of asylum seekers: Syrian and Congolese refugees. While the groups obtain asylum status in Brazil at roughly equivalent rates, Congolese refugees endure significantly greater difficulties at each stage, from arrival through to their treatment by Brazilian officials. Syrians, meanwhile, receive better treatment because the Brazilian state recognizes them as white, in a nation that has historically privileged white immigration. However, even migrants who do secure asylum status find their lives remain extremely difficult, marked by struggle and discrimination.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 28 November 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In 2013, as Syrians fled a brutal war, Brazil took a remarkable step by instituting an open-door policy for all Syrian refugees. Why did Brazil, in contrast to much of the international community, offer asylum to any Syrian who would come? And how do Syrians differ from other refugee populations seeking status in Brazil?

In her book, The Color of Asylum, Katherine Jensen offers an ethnographic look at the process of asylum seeking in Brazil, uncovering the different ways asylum seekers are treated and the racial logic behind their treatment. She focuses on two of the largest and most successful groups of asylum seekers: Syrian and Congolese refugees. While the groups obtain asylum status in Brazil at roughly equivalent rates, their journey to that status could not be more different, with Congolese refugees enduring significantly greater difficulties at each stage, from arrival through to their treatment by Brazilian officials.

As Jensen shows, Syrians receive better treatment because the Brazilian state recognizes them as white, in a nation that has historically privileged white immigration. Ultimately, however, Jensen reaches an unexpected conclusion: Regardless of their country of origin, even migrants who do secure asylum status find their lives remain extremely difficult, marked by struggle and discrimination.

The book provides a powerful insight into the experiences of refugees in Brazil and highlights the need for more comprehensive and compassionate policies to support them. It also raises important questions about the role of race and ethnicity in shaping asylum policies and the treatment of migrants.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226828442