Washington, DC – US-Brazilian relations experienced a sudden diplomatic crisis on Monday after the US Embassy in Brazil ordered the Brazilian security attaché, Marcelo Ivo de Carvalho, to leave the United States immediately.
De Carvalho serves as a key liaison with US immigration authorities in Miami. However, Washington accused him of abusing his position to facilitate illegal movements for the former head of Brazilian intelligence.
Background to the crisis: The Alejandre Ramagem case
This escalation comes a week after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) briefly detained former Brazilian intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem.
Ramagim is one of Brazil’s most wanted fugitives, having fled the country last September after being convicted of plotting a failed coup attempt in coordination with former President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro was a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. According to leaked information, the expelled security attaché, De Carvalho, is suspected of facilitating Ramagem’s entry into the United States and his subsequent disappearance. He allegedly bypassed official security vetting procedures and international extradition requests.
US State Department position: Rule of law first
In a firm statement, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, via its “X” platform, affirmed that the United States will not allow its immigration system to be used as a tool to serve political agendas or circumvent international law.
The statement read: “No foreign national, regardless of their position, can manipulate our immigration system to evade legitimate extradition requests and extend political persecution to U.S. soil.” The Bureau clarified that the Brazilian official residing in Miami had been formally notified of the termination of his duties and the requirement to leave the country.
Although the statement, which was republished by the U.S. Embassy in Brazil, did not explicitly name De Carvalho, diplomatic sources confirmed that he was the individual in question. This sends a clear message that Washington will not be a haven for those fleeing charges of overthrowing democracy.
political repercussions
Observers believe this incident puts the Trump administration in an awkward position, given Trump’s close relationship with Bolsonaro and his security team. However, it appears that US federal agencies have decided to act decisively to preempt any accusations of protecting those involved in attempts to destabilize Latin American countries.
For its part, the current Brazilian government has not issued any immediate official comment. But officials in Brasilia are closely monitoring the deportation of the security attaché, hoping that this pressure will lead to Ramagem’s extradition to face trial in his home country.
