Biden faces mounting pressure to deport Brazil’s ex-president
Bolsonaro likely entered US on A-1 visa, reserved for heads of state
The United States has a Jair Bolsonaro problem. The far-right former Brazilian president flew to Florida two days before his term ended on January 1.
But Bolsonaro left behind a violent movement of electiondenying supporters, who on Sunday stormed Brazil’s presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court. After watching supporters of former US leader Donald Trump invade the US Capitol two years ago, President Joe Biden is now facing mounting pressure to remove Bolsonaro from his self-imposed exile in suburban Orlando.
“Bolsonaro should not be in Florida,” Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro said on CNN. “The United States should not be a refuge for this authoritarian who has inspired domestic terrorism in Brazil. He should be sent back to Brazil.”
Castro added that Bolsonaro, a Trump acolyte now based in the former president’s home state, had “used the Trump playbook to inspire domestic terrorists.” Fellow Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez echoed those views.
BIG DECISION
The comments turn up the heat on Bolsonaro, and highlight Washington’s big decision about his future.
Bolsonaro had a fractious relationship with Biden, and was already on weaker ground back home in Brazil after losing broad protections from prosecution when he stepped down as president. A US consular official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bolsonaro had almost certainly entered on an A-1 visa, which are reserved for heads of state.
Normally the A-1 is cancelled after the recipient leaves office. But with Bolsonaro having left Brazil and entered the United States before his term ended, the official suspected his A-1 is still active.
The official, who has experience with the cancellation of visas for former heads of state, said there is no set time limit on how long someone can stay in the United States on an A-1.