Brazilian students in Argentina are reporting a surge in targeted xenophobia and racial harassment, characterized by doxxing, death threats, and the use of racial slurs. Reports from students in Buenos Aires suggest a shift in campus climates where international students are increasingly subjected to hostility, moving beyond football rivalries into systematic intimidation.
The Escalation of Hostility in Buenos Aires
For Lays Bressane, a 23-year-old student living in Buenos Aires for four years, the environment has turned dangerous. According to Bressane, she received direct messages threatening her safety, including a threat to “hit [her] head with a hammer” if she were seen at the university. She also received an image of a firearm with the caption, “In Argentina, we don’t play.”
Bressane reports that her personal data, including her home address, was exposed online. This follows a pattern of discrimination she says she has witnessed previously, noting that her mother, who is Black, has faced poor service and exclusion in local establishments. “I’m scared,” Bressane said, noting that her parents are currently considering changing their travel plans to remain with her.
Campus Climates and the Rise of Racist Rhetoric
The tension is not limited to social media. Fernando Seabra, a 31-year-old medical student at the Fundación H. Barceló, describes the current atmosphere as a “witch hunt.” Seabra notes that student groups have increasingly adopted the term “mono” (monkey) to target Brazilian peers.
While the university has taken disciplinary action—including the expulsion of two ‘ayudantes’ from the monitoria for comments that could be interpreted as xenophobic—Seabra observed that the discourse has hardened significantly in recent weeks. “Before it was ‘respect the Papá [Messi], you are just visitors here,’ now it is the comment of ‘monkey,'” Seabra stated.
Did you know?
The Fundación H. Barceló is known for admitting a high contingent of foreign students, especially Brazilians.
Beyond Football Rivalries
While some observers might attribute the rise in tensions to football-related nationalism, students on the ground argue the roots are deeper. Bressane stated that while she initially engaged in football banter, the situation transcended sports when she began witnessing consistent, targeted racist comments.
The contrast in treatment is stark. Students report that the environment has shifted from a general sense of being “visitors” in a foreign country to being targets of identity-based abuse. The exposure of private information and the threat of physical violence represent a major escalation in the risks faced by the Brazilian student community in Argentina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary threats reported by Brazilian students?
Students have reported receiving death threats, including graphic imagery of firearms, as well as the unauthorized sharing of private data (doxxing) and the use of racial slurs.
How have universities responded to these incidents?
At the Fundación H. Barceló, reports indicate that the administration has taken disciplinary measures, including the expulsion of two ‘ayudantes’ from the monitoria who made comments that could be interpreted as xenophobic.
Is this hostility strictly related to football?
Students like Lays Bressane argue that while football was the initial context, the abuse has evolved into systemic xenophobia and racism that persists regardless of match outcomes.
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