Brasília, March 3, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Another group of Brazilian immigrants deported from the United States landed late this morning at the Confins International Airport, in Belo Horizonte. The group comprises 251 immigrants who were confined in prisons in Boston, Houston, and cities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Over 60% of the immigrants are from Minas Gerais.

Deputy João Magno (PT-MG), in charge of negotiating the repatriation of the Brazilian immigrants, met the group at the airport. The lawmaker affirmed that the Chamber and the Senate plan to install a Joint Parliamentary Investigation Commission (CPMI) to combat the groups and networks that help people travel abroad illegally. "We want to discover here, through a CPMI, the network that is still sending people to the United States, exposing these Brazilians to a huge risk of being arrested and even killed," he said.

According to Deputy Magno, two more flights are expected to arrive from the United States, on March 15 and 29, retrieving another 500 repatriated Brazilians. (DAS)