Objective/Context:

This article discusses how public opinion behaves in relation to the arrival of foreigners to Brazil.

Methodology:

Specifically, it tests two important theoretical approaches present in the literature: racial prejudice and economic competition.

Conclusions:

The analyses suggest that both dimensions are present, although there is stronger evidence of the former. The probability of considering the arrival of foreigners to Brazil negative is higher when they come from countries with a majority black population, such as Haiti and African countries, compared to other groups, such as Latinos, Asians, Europeans, and Americans. This is supported by the historical and social construction of Brazil itself, marked by a slave heritage and the subjugation of the black population.

Originality:

Despite being a case study, the article contributes to a broader understanding of how public opinion is positioned in relation to the arrival of foreigners in other Latin American contexts with similar historical processes of colonization or with current problems related to new migratory waves. The study offers an approach to the subject in a context that is different from that observed in European countries and the USA, sources of most studies on public opinion and immigration.