Following up its decision to issue immigration visas to 1,000 Jewish families from North African countries, the Brazilian Government has signed an agreement with the United Hias Service under which the immigrants will be admitted into Brazil within the next two years, it was reported here today by United Hias.
The immigrants will be processed in North Africa and transported to Brazil by United Hias in groups of about 50 families. They will be settled primarily in communities outside the larger cities.
Murray I. Gurfein, president of United Hias, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that the Brazilian agreement for Jews from North Africa supplements the visas being received by that organization for European immigrants. He also stated that United Hias would be obliged to pay for the transportation and early integration of the North African immigrants, but that the Brazilian Government had agreed to pay inland transportation for the newcomers from the port of entry.
The project is expected to get under way in the very near future, Mr. Gurfein said. He estimated that it would cost United Hias about $1,000,000 to transport the 1,000. Jewish families from North Africa to Brazil and to effect their integration in their new homes.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.