The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN-affiliated entity, maintains in Portugal a mechanism to help immigrants who wish to voluntarily leave Portuguese territory and return to their country of origin. A recent assessment points to a significant increase in the number of Brazilians using the system.
In the first seven months of this year, the number of people requesting support increased by more than 50% compared to the same period last year. The program in question is called Support for Voluntary Return and Reintegration.
The program is aimed at people in socioeconomic vulnerability situations, regardless of the region where they live, or whether they have regularized their migratory status. The growth in requests is pointed out as indicative that the "Portuguese dream" has turned into disillusionment for many Brazilians.
