Brazil Condemns Use of Handcuffs on Deported Citizens

Brazilian officials criticized the U.S. for using handcuffs on deported Brazilians during a flight that landed unexpectedly in Manaus on Friday. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski called the practice "blatant disrespect" toward Brazilian citizens. The flight, carrying 88 Brazilian deportees, 16 U.S. agents, and eight crew members, had been en route to Belo Horizonte but diverted due to technical issues.

Federal police, acting on orders from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, intervened upon the flight's arrival, ensuring the removal of restraints from the deportees. President Lula also arranged for a Brazilian Air Force plane to transport the passengers to their destination with "dignity and safety."

This marks the second deportation flight to Brazil this year, and the first since U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, amid his administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown. The incident has fueled controversy in Brazil, where the use of restraints on deportees has faced widespread criticism. Former President Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of Trump, had also opposed the practice.

U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials did not immediately comment on the matter. The Brazilian government emphasized its commitment to protecting its citizens’ rights, signaling heightened scrutiny of deportation practices in the future.

The controversy underscores growing tensions over U.S. immigration policies and their global implications, particularly in nations like Brazil that face the return of undocumented migrants under disputed conditions.