U.S. to Issue Visas to Bolsonaro After Brazil Election Loss, Allow Entry Despite Passport Invalidations

Appears to have fled after defying Brazil's Supreme Court order to surrender his passport
Lula sharply criticizes him: "This is what the Bolsonaro family is really like"

The Trump Administration said it would issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator who lost Brazil's presidential election, and his family, and allow them to enter the United States. The United States' decision to accept Bolsonaro, who headed for the country in defiance of a Brazilian Supreme Court order to surrender his passport, is expected to intensify diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

According to the British daily The Guardian, CNN Brasil and other outlets on October 27 local time, a senior U.S. State Department official said, "The State Department will issue visas to Senator Bolsonaro and his family and allow them to enter the country." However, it has not been confirmed whether they will actually enter the United States or whether they will be granted asylum.

AFP-Yonhap

Senator Bolsonaro lost to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil's presidential runoff on October 25. Afterward, Brazil's Supreme Court ordered Senator Bolsonaro, who is under investigation over allegations of money laundering and illegally transferring foreign currency out of the country, to surrender his passport within 24 hours. Bolsonaro did not surrender his passport, and federal police reportedly invalidated all of his passports.

Reports subsequently emerged that Senator Bolsonaro had headed to the United States with his wife and two daughters. The Guardian reported that Brazilian outlet Metropoles, citing his associates, said he planned to seek political asylum after arriving in Florida and that the plan had already been communicated to the Trump Administration. Another Brazilian outlet, O Globo, reported that "Bolsonaro appeared to have lost his composure after losing the election and was afraid of being arrested."

At a birthday celebration that day, President Lula criticized reports that Senator Bolsonaro had left the country, calling it "shameful." He added, "This is what the Bolsonaro family is really like. Brazil is nothing more than a second home to them," and "Those who owe nothing have nothing to fear. A citizen who sneaks out of the country must owe something."

The Workers' Party (PT), to which President Lula belongs, has also reportedly asked Brazil's Supreme Court to issue an arrest warrant for Bolsonaro and called for his name to be added to Interpol's Red Notice list.

Analysts say his trip to the United States could further escalate tensions between Brazil and the United States. The Trump Administration has argued that the Bolsonaro family is facing judicial persecution in Brazil. President Lula, meanwhile, has accused the United States of supporting their return to power.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.