On January 26, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its intention to request clarification from the U.S. government regarding the reported "degrading treatment" of Brazilian individuals on a deportation flight, stated the ministry on Saturday.
Last Friday, Brazilian deportees from the U.S. arrived in Brazil in restraints. Upon landing, several passengers recounted instances of mistreatment during the flight, local sources disclosed.
The aircraft, transporting 88 Brazilian passengers, 16 U.S. security agents, and eight crew members, was originally bound for Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais. However, it made an unscheduled landing in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, due to technical issues, as reported by Brazil's Justice Ministry.
Brazilian authorities then instructed the removal of restraints, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva authorized a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) flight to finalize their trip, as detailed in a government statement released Saturday.
This was the second deportation flight this year from the U.S. returning undocumented migrants to Brazil and the first following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Brazil's federal police.
Queries to U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for comment made late on Saturday remained unanswered.