Brazil’s government expressed strong condemnation on Saturday after dozens of its citizens were deported from the United States and arrived in handcuffs, describing the treatment as a “flagrant disregard” for their rights.
The foreign ministry announced it would demand an explanation from Washington over what it termed the “degrading treatment of passengers” on the deportation flight. The incident has sparked tensions amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on immigration following his return to office, a hallmark of his administration’s hardline policies.
Outrage in Brazil
The flight carrying 88 deported Brazilians landed in the northern city of Manaus on Friday night. According to Brazil’s justice ministry, authorities immediately ordered U.S. officials to remove the handcuffs from the deportees.
Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski informed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of what he called a “blatant violation of the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens.”
Footage broadcast on Brazilian television showed passengers disembarking from the plane, some with their hands and ankles shackled. Brazil’s Minister of Human Rights, Macaé Evaristo, revealed that children, including those with autism, were among the deportees and had endured “very serious experiences.”
Testimonies of Deportees
Deportees recounted harrowing conditions during the flight. Edgar Da Silva Moura, a 31-year-old computer technician, said passengers were denied water and restroom access, with their hands and feet bound throughout the journey.
“It was very hot, some people fainted,” Moura told AFP.
Another deportee, 21-year-old freelancer Luis Antonio Rodrigues Santos, described the flight as a “nightmare,” highlighting respiratory issues among passengers during “four hours without air conditioning” due to technical problems.
“Things have already changed with Trump,” Santos said. “Immigrants are treated as criminals.”
Flight Disruption and Government Response
The deportation flight, initially destined for Belo Horizonte, was diverted to Manaus due to technical issues. In response, President Lula ordered a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft to transport the deportees to their final destinations, ensuring their journey would conclude “with dignity and safety.”
The justice ministry also confirmed that the deportees had traveled with their documents, indicating their agreement to return home.
Broader Context and U.S. Immigration Policies
The controversy comes as Trump’s administration enacts a series of executive orders to intensify immigration enforcement. Since returning to office, Trump has declared a “national emergency” at the U.S.-Mexico border, deployed additional troops, and accelerated deportation efforts.
While deportation flights were also conducted under previous U.S. presidents, the Trump administration has drawn attention for its use of military aircraft for repatriations, including recent flights to Guatemala.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there are an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the United States.
The Brazilian government emphasized that it would seek clarification from Washington on the deportees’ treatment, signaling a potential diplomatic dispute as Latin American nations respond to Trump’s revived hardline immigration stance.
