A migração de portugueses e luso-angolanos para a América Latina (1975-1977)

Abstract

During 1975 half million people arrived in Portugal coming from its former colonies (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and Cape Verde), predominantly from the first two, the major Lusitanian colonies in the 20thcentury. Incapable to accommodate these great volume of people, ravaged by a serious economic crises, Portugal asked for help. There were diplomatic negotiations between the country and the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM), nowadays known as International Organization for Migration (IOM). Through this institution Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina, were contacted to receive migrants who, mostly, came from Angola. The great majority of them settled in Brazil. The government created a task force to help them during their arrival. Many were helped by the Portuguese community. Among these migrants between 80 and 90% left to Portugal in the 80’s. As for the other Latin American countries, Venezuela that has the second major Portuguese colony of the region, received migrants because of the petroleum exploration boom. Argentina, where Portugueses are the third major migrant group, received a small group.