The Brazilian government has expressed outrage and said it would demand an explanation from the Donald Trump administration after dozens of immigrants deported from the United States arrived on a plane in handcuffs. Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said the treatment of migrants during repatriation constituted a “gross disregard” for human rights.
The dispute has come to light as Latin America grapples with US President Donald Trump’s staunch anti-immigration agenda. Since returning to power a week ago, Trump has implemented his tough plans on irregular migration and mass deportations, with several planes taking illegal immigrants to countries as diverse as Guatemala and Brazil.
When one such plane landed in the northern Brazilian city of Manaus, authorities reportedly found that the 88 Brazilians on board were in handcuffs. He ordered U.S. officials to “immediately remove the handcuffs,” Brazil’s Justice Ministry said in a statement.
The statement said Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski told President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about the “gross disregard for the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens.”
????Brazil puts handcuffs on deported people – Trump administration not impressed
Brazil called the use of handcuffs on the deportees a “gross disrespect” and called for their removal mid-flight during an unexpected landing in Manaus.
The Trump administration, now ramping up mass deportations, sees… pic.twitter.com/N0jKCp7yHK
– Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) 26 January 2025
Brazil will request “clarification from the US government regarding the disrespectful treatment of passengers” on Friday night’s flight, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
American Nightmare
Among the Brazilians on board the flight was Edgar da Silva Moura, a 31-year-old computer technician. He was detained in the United States for seven months, before being deported.
“On the plane they didn’t give us water, they tied our hands and legs, they didn’t even let us go to the bathroom,” he told AFP news agency.
“It was so hot, some people fainted,” Maura said.
Twenty-one-year-old Luis Antonio Rodrigues Santos, who was also on the flight, recalled the “nightmare” of people suffering from “respiratory problems” during “four hours without air conditioning” due to technical problems on the plane.
“Things have already changed (with Trump), immigrants are treated like criminals,” he said.
The flight was originally scheduled for the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte, but had to land in Manaus due to a technical problem.
Flight not part of Trump’s plan
A government source told AFP the deportation flight was not directly linked to any immigration orders issued by Trump after taking office, but stemmed from a 2017 bilateral agreement.
Brazil’s human rights minister Macky Evaristo told journalists that “children with autism … who went through very serious experiences” were also on the flight.
Footage on Brazilian television showed some passengers disembarking from a civilian plane with their hands handcuffed and their ankles bound.
The Justice Ministry said, “Upon becoming aware of the situation, President Lula ordered the deployment of Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft to transport Brazilians to their final destinations, ensuring that they reach their destination. Can complete the journey with dignity and safety.” ,
A Brazilian government source told AFP that the deportees who arrived in Manaus traveled “with their documents”, indicating they agreed to return home.
Trump’s immigration action
Trump promised to crack down on illegal immigration during the election campaign and began his second term with a flurry of executive actions aimed at comprehensively reforming entry into the United States. On his first day in office, he signed orders declaring a “national emergency” at the southern US border and announced the deployment of more troops to the region, vowing to deport “criminal aliens”.
Several deportation flights since Monday have attracted public and media attention, although such actions were also common under previous US presidents.
However, breaking with prior practice, the Trump administration has begun using military aircraft for repatriation flights, with at least one plane landing in Guatemala this week. The United States also expelled 265 migrants to Guatemala on Friday.
According to Department of Homeland Security data, there are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.
