I. Introduction: Neglect and Violence as Drivers of Migration
Brazil’s citizens are increasingly leaving the country in response to widespread government neglect and escalating violence. While Brazil is often portrayed as a rising power in Latin America, systemic failures in governance and unchecked insecurity undermine daily life. Neglected communities face poverty, violence, and exclusion, while government institutions fail to provide adequate protection or justice. This combination has created conditions in which migration becomes the only viable escape for countless Brazilians.

II. Endemic Violence and Crime
Brazil has some of the highest rates of violent crime in the world, with homicides, gang violence, and police brutality dominating urban and rural life. Drug cartels and paramilitary groups exert control in many regions, while ordinary citizens are left unprotected. The government’s failure to address these security crises forces many families to flee violence.

III. Police Brutality and State Violence
Police operations in Brazil frequently target poor and marginalised communities, particularly in favelas. Excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings, and indiscriminate raids leave residents living in constant fear. Far from offering protection, the state often exacerbates violence, pushing communities into displacement.

IV. Neglect of Rural and Indigenous Communities
Rural and indigenous communities are particularly affected by state neglect. They face chronic underinvestment in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, alongside violence linked to land disputes and resource exploitation. Their exclusion from decision-making processes reinforces cycles of poverty and displacement.

V. Urban Inequality and Poverty
Urban areas are marked by extreme inequality, with sprawling favelas existing alongside wealthy neighbourhoods. Neglect of public services leaves millions without access to clean water, sanitation, and safe housing. This deprivation, compounded by violence, creates unlivable conditions that drive migration.

VI. Corruption and Impunity
Corruption within government institutions undermines public trust and ensures that abuses go unpunished. Victims of violence, particularly in marginalised communities, rarely receive justice, reinforcing cycles of fear and neglect. Impunity emboldens perpetrators and contributes to ongoing displacement.

VII. Gendered Dimensions of Neglect and Violence
Women and girls face particular vulnerabilities, including sexual violence, domestic abuse, and trafficking. The government’s failure to provide protection or adequate services exacerbates their plight, forcing many to seek safety abroad.

VIII. Targeting of Activists and Human Rights Defenders
Activists who challenge state neglect or expose violence face harassment, intimidation, and even assassination. Environmental defenders and indigenous leaders are especially vulnerable, targeted by both state and private interests. The repression of activism silences dissent and contributes to the broader exodus.

IX. Humanitarian Crisis in Neglected Regions
Regions such as the Amazon and impoverished urban peripheries experience overlapping humanitarian crises. Lack of healthcare, education, and basic services, combined with violence and environmental destruction, leaves communities in dire conditions. Many see migration as the only hope for survival.

X. Internal Displacement and Forced Migration
Millions of Brazilians are displaced internally due to violence, poverty, and neglect. For many, internal displacement is only the first step, leading eventually to migration abroad. Asylum claims increasingly highlight the combined impacts of government failure and widespread violence.

XI. Diaspora Advocacy and Support Networks
Brazilians abroad have created networks to support new arrivals and raise awareness of government neglect and violence. These diaspora communities advocate internationally for accountability and reforms, amplifying the struggles of those left behind.

XII. Conclusion: A Nation in Crisis
Brazil’s government neglect and the pervasive violence engulfing the country are key drivers of migration. Until the state prioritises accountability, protection, and equality,
many citizens will continue to see exile as the only path to safety and dignity. The ongoing exodus reflects both a failure of governance and the resilience of those who refuse to accept lives defined by violence and neglect.