Active refugee admission policies in Europe: exploring an emerging research field
Family reunification is an Active Refugee Admission Policy (ARAP) that allows refugees to enjoy their right to family life. The literature on family reunification focuses on countries with restrictive policies in the Global North like Canada, Australia, United States of America and Europe. Those countries could learn from other experiences of family reunification, like in Latin America. This work analyzes family reunification policies for refugees in Latin America with a focus on the case of Brazil using the content analysis of national and regional legislation on asylum. Brazil has adopted different types of ARAP including humanitarian visas for Syrians and Haitians besides a facilitated visa procedure for refugees' family members. I show that Latin American countries recognize the right to family reunification to refugees and adopt expanded definitions of family. Family reunification is a type ARAP that was consolidated in the Brazilian practice in the last 20 years. It is an alternative for people in need of protection to arrive in Brazil and live with their family members. Family reunification also contributes to the local integration of refugees in Brazil.