CIUDAD DEL ESTE — Paraguay has long prided itself on its open and generous spirit, especially toward migrants fleeing crises such as Venezuela’s political and social collapse. But a report by Noticias CDE warns that this same openness, combined with lax background verification, is turning the country into a refuge for criminals.
“The Paraguayan, generous by nature, usually lends a hand and offers help, trusting that those who arrive come to work and get ahead,” writes Esteban Ross in the analysis. However, the piece notes that not all foreigners entering legally have good intentions. In recent years, there has been an increase in crimes committed by foreigners who enter with proper documents but later become involved in violent acts.
The report highlights a recent case in which a group of Venezuelan nationals carried out a violent robbery, feigning injury to attack their victims. It describes this as part of a broader pattern involving Brazilian and other foreign citizens who exploit the lack of rigorous criminal background checks to settle in Paraguay.
“The law allows legal entry, but the problem lies in the absence of a rigorous system that verifies the criminal and judicial records of those who cross the border,” the article states. As a result, Paraguay becomes both a land of opportunity for honest workers and a safe haven for delinquents who find a space without effective controls.
The damage is clear: insecurity affects Paraguayan families, generates fear in communities, and erodes trust toward migrants who do come with legitimate intentions to progress. The solidarity of the Paraguayan people should not be confused with a lack of oversight, the report concludes.