U.S. Revokes Visas of Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Allies
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced late Friday that the United States has revoked the visas of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, several of his judicial allies, and their immediate family members. Rubio described the move as a response to what he called a “political witch hunt” against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. “President Trump made clear that his administration will hold accountable foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States,” Rubio said. He accused Moraes of leading a campaign of “persecution and censorship” that extended beyond Brazil’s borders and ordered the visa revocations effective immediately. The decision followed Brazilian court orders restricting Bolsonaro’s movements, including an ankle monitor and a social media ban, amid accusations that he sought to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election.
The crackdown on Bolsonaro, who has denied any wrongdoing, has deepened tensions between Washington and Brasília. Earlier in the week, President Trump threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian imports in protest of the charges against Bolsonaro. The former president, now barred from holding office until 2030, told Reuters he felt “supreme humiliation” following the court’s decision. Bolsonaro and several allies were indicted in February over an alleged coup attempt and efforts to cling to power after his election loss to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Trump administration’s latest move signals a broader effort to pressure Brazil over what it describes as politically motivated prosecutions.
Meanwhile, Venezuela released 10 detained U.S. citizens and residents in a three-nation deal involving Venezuela, El Salvador, and the United States. The agreement secured the return of dozens of migrants previously deported to El Salvador under Trump’s immigration policies. Rubio hailed the release as a victory for diplomacy, thanking Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for his cooperation. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called it “a day of blessings,” as El Salvador freed over 250 Venezuelan migrants previously held in its mega-prison, CECOT, under a $6 million detention agreement with the U.S. The deal has drawn controversy after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations, sparking a high-profile Supreme Court battle.
