Bloomburg reports that Mexico is resuming a visa requirement for Brazilians and Ecuadoreans to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants to the U.S. The policy change prompted Brazil and Ecuador to reinstate visas for Mexicans.

The return to requiring visas, announced in a statement today by the Mexican Foreign Ministry, reverses a five-year-old policy for Brazilians and breaks a 36-year-old agreement with Ecuador. The Brazilian and Ecuadorian foreign ministries said visas for Mexican tourists and business people would be reinstated Oct. 23, the same day the Mexican rule takes effect, under reciprocity policies.

The number of Brazilians entering the U.S. illegally through Mexico has climbed ninefold since the visa requirement ended, making the South American country the fastest growing source of unauthorized entries, according to the U.S. Homeland Security Department.

"This is probably U.S. pressure and also serves Mexico’s interest,” said Juan Lindau, chairman of the political science department at Colorado College and author of three books on Mexico. "There’s an understanding that if Mexico does a good job in stopping other people from entering illegally in the U.S., it’s more likely to get an agreement for Mexicans in the U.S."’

"A new agreement to ease immigration to the U.S. for Mexicans was abandoned after the Sept. 11 attacks", Lindau said

Mexico also decided to reinstate visa requirements for South Africa, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in statement. The Mexican government said Brazilian, Ecuadorean and South African tourists may apply for five-year visas while businesspeople may apply for three-year ones. Both visas allow for multiple trips, the Mexican government said.

Source: Bloomburg