The Color of Asylum

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Congolese migrants wait in long lines in unbearable heat to see immigration officials, while Syrians go through an expedited process. And while Syrian migrants reported a relaxed and comfortable environment while meeting with immigration officials, Congolese migrants were met with distrust and suspicion as they recounted the harrowing and traumatic stories of life in their home country. As Jensen shows, Syrians are treated so differently from other asylum seekers because the Brazilian state recognizes them as white. This dates back to Brazilian immigration policy that followed the abolition of slavery. Eager to "whiten" its population, Brazil welcomed a first wave of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants-a precedent that would affect the nation's policy toward Syrian refugees in the twenty-first century. On the other hand, anti-black racism shapes the experiences of Congolese and other African refugees and entrenches racial inequalities-even among those deemed worthy of safe haven. .