Overview
- Alexandre Ramagem, listed as in ICE custody on Monday, was detained in Florida according to ICE records and a Brazilian federal police statement that cited an Orlando arrest.
- Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced the former ABIN director to 16 years in September for an attempted coup and for using the intelligence agency to surveil judges, lawmakers, journalists and other perceived opponents.
- Brazil filed a formal extradition request in December, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Tuesday he expects Ramagem to be sent back to serve his sentence.
- U.S. authorities have released no details on how he was picked up, while Bolsonaro ally Paulo Figueiredo says a minor traffic stop led to an ICE referral and claims Ramagem has a pending asylum request.
- In the U.S., immigration cases run on a civil track separate from extradition, which means a pending asylum bid could slow any transfer to Brazil.