Brazil’s army to go to border after attack on migrants

BRAZIL will send troops to its border with Venezuela today after residents of the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima drove out Venezuelan immigrants from their improvised camps, amid growing regional tensions.

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into Brazil over the past three years as they seek to escape the economic, political and social crisis gripping their country.

The latest show of tensions began early on Saturday, hours after a local merchant was robbed and severely beaten in an incident blamed on Venezuelan suspects, in Pacaraima, where an estimated 1,000 immigrants are living on the streets.

Dozens of locals then attacked the two main immigrant makeshift camps and burned the migrants’ belongings, prompting Venezuelans to flee across the border back to their home country. Shots were fired, stores were shuttered and debris littered the streets.

Peru and Ecuador are halting immigrants at the border by requiring them to show their passports – which many lack – instead of simple identity cards.