06/ 09
The Paraguayan dream Who sold the Paraguayan dream, and who was left with money stuck
Paraguay was sold to Brazilians as a land of low taxes and easy living, including by people who profit from the move[1]. Now the digital bank that drew immigrants is under intervention, and Brazilians have money stuck[2].
Nov 4, 2024 · Santiago Peña, at BTG's AgroForum
Go there. Brazilian businesspeople should see with their own eyes what is happening in Paraguay[3]
Oct 31, 2025 · Comprova
There was no evidence of a "mass exodus" of Brazilians to Paraguay: the flow grew under both Lula and Bolsonaro[4].
Nov 2025 · Conexão Política
According to El Surti, the outlet announces a collaboration with Imigra Paraguai, which sells help with residency and company registration in Paraguay[1].
Apr 4, 2026 · Conexão Política
In branded content, the outlet calls Imigra "parceira comercial do Conexão Política junto ao país vizinho" (Conexão Política's business partner in the neighboring country)[5].
May 19, 2026 · Conexão Política
This time as news, without the advertising label, the outlet reports Brazilians seeking residency "at a record pace" and uses its business partner as a source[6].
Jul 7, 2026 · Luciano Hang, on X
Paraguay is a country that chose the right path![7]
Sep 30, 2026 · El Surti
An investigation looks at Imigra, Conexão Política and the influencers João Buenno and Vinicius Guimaraes[1].
Oct 31, 2026 · El Otro País
The Paraguayan fact-checker rates as false the "masiva huida de brasileños" (mass flight of Brazilians) after Lula's win. Immigration in Ciudad del Este: "Por ahora no existe nada de lo que se muestra en las redes" (for now, none of what is shown on social media exists)[8].
Nov 3, 2026 · Central Bank of Paraguay
The Central Bank of Paraguay intervenes in Ueno Bank, a digital bank that drew immigrants. Brazilians have money stuck[2].
Nov 5, 2026 · Santiago Peña
Peña announces his resignation. Congress still has to accept it[9].
Who sells
An outlet and its business partner
Conexão Política has more than 2.4 million Instagram followers. Since January 2026, it has promoted with Imigra Paraguai the agency's song that sings of "Deus, pátria, família e liberdade" (God, homeland, family and freedom)[1]. In May, it used its partner as a source for a news story[6].
According to El Surti, Davy Albuquerque is one of the founders of Conexão Política and co-founder and CEO of Imigra Paraguai. He did not respond[1]. Businessman Luciano Hang, owner of the Havan retail chain, praised Paraguay after meeting Peña and is studying the country to expand his stores[7].
The promise
What was promised, and debunked
According to El Surti, influencer João Buenno claims water in Paraguay is free. Asked by El Surti, he said water is included in the rent. Vinicius Guimaraes denied promoting informal work[1]. In Paraguay, 62.5% of jobs are informal, there is no unemployment insurance and paid leave starts at 12 working days[10].
The "mass exodus" had no evidence, according to Comprova[4], and El Otro País rated it false. The 1,700% rise in searches is a relative Google index that does not say how many people searched[8].
The bill
Those who move pay
Pass this page on
An image with the main fact, in story format, and the link to this page.
Referências10 sources
- 01Mídia NINJA (El Surti) · Paraguai: o Éden dos conservadores brasileirosEl Surti's investigation: the Conexão Política–Imigra collaboration, the song, Davy Albuquerque, Buenno and Guimaraes.(opens in a new tab)
- 02BBC News Brasil (O Povo) · 'Quase todo meu dinheiro está preso no banco': brasileiros que foram para o Paraguai são afetados pela crise no paísCentral Bank of Paraguay's intervention in Ueno Bank and Brazilians with money held.(opens in a new tab)
- 03La Política Online · Peña a empresarios brasileños: 'Vayan a buscar a Paraguay lo que no encuentran en Brasil'Santiago Peña's remarks to Brazilian businesspeople at BTG's AgroForum in São Paulo.(opens in a new tab)
- 04Comprova (Terra) · Não há evidências de que brasileiros estariam fugindo ‘em massa’ para o Paraguai por ser um país governado pela direitaNo evidence of a mass exodus; migration grew under both Lula and Bolsonaro.(opens in a new tab)
- 05Conexão Política · Imigra Paraguai promove consultoria para empresários que buscam migrar para regime tributário de 1%Branded content calling Imigra the outlet's business partner.(opens in a new tab)
- 06Conexão Política · Fuga do Brasil com eventual reeleição de Lula leva brasileiros buscarem residência no Paraguai em ritmo recordeNews story, outside the branded-content section, with the business partner as a source.(opens in a new tab)
- 07ND+ · Luciano Hang exalta Santiago Peña: ‘não cobramos impostos para o governo ficar gigante’Luciano Hang's post on X on Jul 7, 2026 and his plans to expand Havan to Paraguay.(opens in a new tab)
- 08El Otro País · Medios y redes informan sobre masiva huida de brasileños al Paraguay tras la victoria de Lula. Es falsoFact-check: the exodus is false; the 1,700% from Google Trends; the statement by immigration in Ciudad del Este.(opens in a new tab)
- 09Gazeta do Povo · Santiago Peña renuncia à Presidência do ParaguaiResignation announced; the letter needs Congress's approval.(opens in a new tab)
- 10BBC News Brasil (Terra) · 'Somos oprimidos no Brasil': a onda de brasileiros rumo ao Paraguai em busca de 'sonho de direita'62.5% informality, 12 working days of leave, no unemployment insurance; Roberta Viegas's remark.(opens in a new tab)
Source titles are in the language they were published in.