Brazil firmly pinched the US on Saturday as dozens of deportees arrived in the country in handcuffs.
A plane carrying 88 Brazilian passengers, 16 US security agents and eight crew members, originally scheduled to arrive in Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais state, but made an emergency landing in the city of Minas due to a technical error Was, said a statement by the Brazilian government.
Brazilian Federal Police received the plane on instructions from Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski and intervened, asking US agents to remove the handcuffs from the deportee.
Lewandowski told leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that it was a “clear insult” to his fundamental rights, according to a statement from Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
“Upon learning of the situation, President Lula ordered that Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft be mobilized to transport Brazilians to their final destination, ensuring that they would complete their journey with dignity and safety. Can complete,” the Justice Ministry said. ,
Anti-immigration sentiment in America
US President Donald Trump has taken a hardline immigration stance since coming into office this week, and has vowed to deport undocumented immigrants.
However, the deportation flight was the result of a 2017 bipartisan agreement and did not stem from any of Trump’s orders on immigration since taking office, a government source told the AFP news agency.
It was the second search flight carrying undocumented migrants from the US to Brazil this year.
Trump on Monday abandoned several deportation flights upon taking office, though he has also had them under previous presidents.
The use of handcuffs on migrants is considered controversial in Brazil. Even conservative Brazilian President Jair Bolsoro, a Trump supporter, has called for an end to the practice.
tg/wd (AFP, Reuters)
