Brazilian Prison System and Migrants: Challenges of the social worker’s work

Abstract

The article aims to analyze the experiences of migrants deprived of liberty within the Santa Catarina prison system and to examine the work of social workers in this context. Grounded in a critical-dialectical perspective, the research seeks to uncover reality’s underlying determinations and contradictions, drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Gramsci, Wacquant and Iamamoto. This qualitative, exploratory study began with a bibliographic and documentary review, followed by field research involving interviews with incarcerated migrants. The findings reveal the heightened vulnerability of migrants, whose fundamental rights are further restricted, due to challenges in communication, limited access to public policies, and social isolation. The study underscores the importance of anchoring social workers’ efforts in the ethical-political framework of Social Work. It emphasizes the need for professionals to develop collaborative strategies with various professionals and organizations to promote actions aimed at defending human rights and social justice.