Alexandre Ramagem, Brazil’s former intelligence chief and ally of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Orlando, Florida.
Key Takeaways
Former Brazilian intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem was arrested by ICE in Florida after fleeing Brazil to avoid serving a 16-year sentence for his role in a coup attempt. President Lula has requested his extradition, while Bolsonaro allies argue he should be granted asylum.
- Former Brazilian spy chief Alexandre Ramagem detained by ICE in Orlando
- Ramagem fled Brazil before starting 16-year sentence for coup involvement
- President Lula requests U.S. to send Ramagem back to serve sentence
- Bolsonaro allies claim Ramagem is seeking political asylum in the U.S.
- Ramagem's detention followed a minor traffic stop, per allies
Ramagem fled Brazil in September before he could begin serving a 16-year sentence for his role in the coup attempt by Bolsonaro supporters in 2023. According to Brazilian federal police, Ramagem illegally crossed into Guyana and then flew to the U.S., where he had been living as a fugitive.
Brazilian Senator Jorge Seif claimed on social media that Ramagem is pleading for political asylum in the United States. Seif asserted that Ramagem was being persecuted at home and argued that his detention should be lifted. However, details about why Ramagem was taken into custody remain unclear.
The Brazilian federal police confirmed that ICE detained 'a fugitive from Brazilian justice following his conviction for the crimes of armed criminal association, attempted coup d'etat, and the attempted violent abolition of the rule of law.' The statement did not mention Ramagem by name but noted that the unnamed fugitive was recently sentenced by Brazil's top court for the same three counts as Ramagem's conviction.
Paulo Figueiredo, a Bolsonaro ally living in the U.S., posted on social media that Ramagem was detained after a police stop in Orlando 'initially for a minor traffic violation and then referred to ICE.' Figueiredo added that Ramagem has a pending asylum application and is optimistic he will be released soon.
Ramagem, 53, previously commanded Brazil's main intelligence agency, ABIN, under Bolsonaro. He was later elected as a federal lawmaker but lost his seat after his conviction. Additionally, Ramagem is under investigation for allegedly leading a criminal group that carried out illegal spying on behalf of Bolsonaro and his inner circle using Israeli surveillance software.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has asked the United States to send Ramagem back to Brazil so he can serve his sentence. 'I believe Ramagem will come back to Brazil; he has to come back to serve his sentence,' Lula said in an interview with a local news outlet.
Bolsonaro himself is serving a 27-year prison sentence over the conspiracy, which prosecutors said failed only because of a lack of support from military top brass. His eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, is emerging as a key opposition candidate in this year’s presidential election.
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