Official announcements from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry or U.S. State Department

Brazil Summons U.S. Diplomat Over Alleged Abuse of 88 Deportees Arriving in Handcuffs

Jan 27, 2025, 12:45 PM

Brazil's government has expressed outrage after 88 Brazilian immigrants deported from the United States arrived by plane in handcuffs and chains, calling it a "flagrant disregard" for their rights. The deportees, including men, women, and children, reported being subjected to degrading treatment, alleging they were assaulted, tortured, and abused by U.S. immigration agents during the flight. They also reported that agents made derogatory remarks such as "To hell with your government." The plane, which experienced technical problems and landed in Manaus before proceeding to Belo Horizonte's Confins Airport, had no air conditioning, causing passengers to feel unwell; at least 50 required medical attention upon arrival. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered the removal of handcuffs and chains from the deportees and met with Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira to discuss the situation. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty) announced it will demand explanations from Washington over the treatment of its citizens, stating that the use of handcuffs violated a bilateral agreement that allows restraints only in exceptional cases. The Itamaraty summoned the U.S. chargé d'affaires in Brasília, Gabriel Escobar, for a meeting. The Brazilian Federal Police has launched an investigation into the allegations of mistreatment and violence during the deportation flight.