Operation Welcome not all rosy amid Venezuelan migrant crisis

This week, Brazilian senior government officials presented Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, to Operation Welcome — a military-controlled task force in northern Brazil to shelter Venezuelan refugees. 

Having successfully documented over 60,000 citizens fleeing from poverty in Brazil’s northern neighbor, transferring them to regions across the country, the government presented the operation as a triumph — and Mr. Borrell was legitimately impressed.

But, during the meeting in Brasília — attended by The Brazilian Report — the government did not invite any dissenting voices, and may well not have been telling the full story about Operation Welcome.

Not even María Teresa Belandría, the ambassador to Brazil for the opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was invited. She has been in the country for three years now, having been appointed by opposition leader Juan Guaidó, whom Brazil still recognizes as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

But Messrs. Guaidó and Borrell have had a falling out in recent weeks, after it was announced the EU would send a mission of observers to the country’s upcoming election — which part of the opposition plans to boycott.

Had the opportunity to hear the striking story...