Brazil to seek explanation from US on deportee treatment

Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it will request an explanation from the US government regarding the “degrading treatment” of 88 Brazilian citizens deported last Friday (Jan. 24). The deportees arrived at Manaus Airport in Amazonas, where the Brazilian Federal Police discovered that they had been transported in handcuffs and chains.

“The indiscriminate use of handcuffs and chains violates the terms of the agreement with the US, which mandates the dignified, respectful, and humane treatment of returnees,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. The ministry also emphasized that it “remains vigilant” regarding changes in US migration policies to ensure the “protection, safety, and dignity of Brazilians living there.”

“The Brazilian government considers it unacceptable that the conditions agreed upon with the US government are not being upheld. Since 2018, Brazil has agreed to facilitate repatriation flights to reduce the time its nationals spend in US detention centers due to irregular immigration and lack of appeal options,” the statement added.

Citing national sovereignty, the Brazilian government ordered the removal of the handcuffs and dispatched a Brazilian Air Force aircraft to transport the Brazilians to their final destination. The American aircraft, en route to Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais state, was forced to make an emergency landing in Manaus, located in northern Brazil, due to technical issues.

“The Brazilian authorities denied authorization for the charter flight to Belo Horizonte due to the use of handcuffs and chains, the poor condition of the aircraft—including a malfunctioning air conditioning system—and other issues. Additionally, the 88 nationals on board expressed outrage over the undignified treatment they received,” the ministry's note states.

On Saturday (25), Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira met in Manaus with representatives from the Federal Police and the Brazilian Air Force to receive a detailed report on the incidents involving Brazilian citizens deported on a US government flight. “The meeting will serve as the basis for a formal request for explanations from the US government regarding the degrading treatment experienced by the passengers,” the ministry stated in a release.

The Brazilian Air Force plane transporting Brazilians deported from the United States arrived in Minas Gerais on Saturday night (25).