Bolsonaro son lands in Miami after losing Brazil's election
The 45-year-old senator crossed into Argentina and flew to the United States after U.S. officials granted visas to him and his family.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday after leaving Brazil, a move that follows his defeat in the recent presidential election. He was joined by his wife, Fernanda Antunes Figueira Bolsonaro, and their two daughters, Carolina and Luiza Figueira Bolsonaro. The family departed Brazil on Tuesday night and reached the United States by the following morning.
According to the Argentine migration authority, the group crossed the Tancredo Neves International Bridge at 10:50 p.m. on Tuesday. This border crossing connects Brazil with the northeastern province of Misiones in Argentina. The agency stated that the travelers entered with valid travel documents and no legal obstacles. They proceeded to a private charter flight operated by Baires Fly S.A. shortly after clearing immigration controls.
The private plane took off at 11:30 p.m. with a filed flight plan directing it to Guayaquil, Ecuador. FlightRadar24 data showed the aircraft landing in Guayaquil around 4 a.m. It departed again shortly thereafter for Miami's Opa Locka Executive Airport. Cameras from Telemundo 51 captured the plane touching down near 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The U.S. government granted visas to Bolsonaro and his family on the day before their arrival. This decision occurred while Bolsonaro faced orders from Brazil's Federal Supreme Court. The court had demanded he surrender his ordinary and diplomatic passports by noon on Tuesday. It was unclear if he complied, though allies noted he also held an Italian passport. His status as a senator provides special legal protections that expire on January 31, 2027.
Bolsonaro is currently under investigation by Brazil's top court in two separate cases. One probe alleges he used a sports betting company to launder fraudulent pension deductions from elderly citizens. A second case accuses him of accepting millions of dollars from a disgraced banker. These investigations involve charges of corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was reelected with a margin of approximately 4.4 million votes, reacted to the departure on Tuesday. Speaking to a small group outside the presidential residence in Brasilia, Lula said he lacked precise information on Bolsonaro's location but confirmed the senator had left. Lula described the act of leaving as shameful. He stated that Bolsonaro could have remained in Brazil to prove the accusations were false.
The departure is expected to strain diplomatic relations between Brazil and Argentina. President Javier Milei of Argentina traveled to Brazil to campaign for Bolsonaro during the election. On Tuesday, Milei's administration spokesperson, Adrián Ravier, said there was no asylum request from Bolsonaro and nothing further to add. However, Argentine legislator Marcela Pagano filed a lawsuit in Puerto Iguazú on Tuesday. She sought an investigation into potential human trafficking and abuse of authority regarding the senator's entry.
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, commented on the situation earlier on Wednesday. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, he said he would be pleased to have Bolsonaro in the United States. Trump called the senator and his family good people and described the election as strange and terrible. He noted that he did not support the election results, though he did not offer additional details. Neither the Brazilian government nor Bolsonaro's representatives responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
