Alexandre Ramagem, Brazil's former intelligence chief, was freed from immigration detention in the United States after being held by ICE in Florida on Monday. Ramagem had fled Brazil before beginning a 16-year prison sentence handed down in September for his role in a coup plot supporting former President Jair Bolsonaro. Reports indicate he illegally crossed the border into Guyana before flying to the US. Figueiredo claimed Ramagem was initially detained for a minor traffic infraction in Orlando and then referred to ICE, which he described as a common procedure in Florida.
Figueiredo stated that Ramagem has a pending asylum application. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday that he has asked the US to send Ramagem back to Brazil to serve his prison sentence. The Brazilian government formally sought Ramagem's extradition. Brazil's embassy in Washington, DC, filed documentation with the US Department of State seeking his extradition on December 30, 2025. As of Wednesday, Ramagem was no longer listed among people detained by ICE on its website, though there was no immediate comment from ICE.
Ramagem, also a former lawmaker, was stripped of his seat in Brazil's Congress in December as a consequence of his September conviction in the coup case. His detention came as former President Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted in September. Bolsonaro's allies depicted his trial as a political witch-hunt, sparking the ire of US President Donald Trump, who placed large tariffs on Brazil and called for the trial to be thrown out before later relaxing some of those tariffs following improved relations with President Lula.
Alexandre Ramagem, Brazil's former intelligence chief, was freed from immigration detention in the United States after being held by ICE in Florida on Monday. Paulo Figueiredo, a far-right Brazilian commentator based in the US, announced the release on Wednesday through a post on X. A source from Brazil's federal police also confirmed Ramagem's release to Reuters.
Ramagem had fled Brazil before beginning a 16-year prison sentence handed down in September for his role in a coup plot supporting former President Jair Bolsonaro. Reports state he illegally crossed the border into Guyana before taking a plane to the US. Figueiredo said Ramagem was detained following a police approach in Orlando initially for a minor traffic infraction and was subsequently referred to ICE, describing it as a common procedure in Florida.
Figueiredo stated that Ramagem has a pending asylum application. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday that he has asked the US to send Ramagem back to Brazil to serve his prison sentence. Brazil's federal police attributed Ramagem's arrest to his conviction in the coup case.
The Brazilian government formally sought Ramagem's extradition. Brazil's embassy in Washington, DC, filed documentation with the US Department of State seeking his extradition on December 30, 2025. As of Wednesday, Ramagem was no longer listed among people detained by ICE on its website, though there was no immediate comment from ICE.
Ramagem, also a former lawmaker, was stripped of his seat in Brazil's Congress in December as a consequence of his September conviction in the coup case. His detention came as former President Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted in September. Bolsonaro's allies depicted his trial as a political witch-hunt, sparking the ire of US President Donald Trump, who placed large tariffs on Brazil and called for the trial to be thrown out before later relaxing some of those tariffs following improved relations with President Lula.
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