Flávio Bolsonaro arrives in Florida after fleeing Brazil defeat
Flávio Bolsonaro arrived at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport in Florida on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, traveling via Argentina and Ecuador with his wife and two daughters after fleeing Brazil following his defeat in the presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, according to 20minutos.es.
Arrival in Florida and United States Visas
United States President Donald Trump expressed support for receiving Bolsonaro, although Washington officials did not immediately specify the exact visa category granted. Flávio Bolsonaro is the eldest son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiring to stage a coup d'état following his 2022 election defeat. Another son, former deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, already resides in the United States, where he has maintained a residence since the previous year.
Border Crossing Through Argentina and Ecuador
The journey out of South America began late Tuesday night when the senator crossed the Brazilian border at the Tancredo Neves international bridge, which links Foz do Iguaçu to Puerto Iguazú, as confirmed by Argentina’s National Directorate of Migration. From Argentina, the family boarded a private plane to Guayaquil, Ecuador, before completing the final leg of their flight to Florida.
Justice Moraes Orders Seizure of Bolsonaro Passports
The departure flouted an urgent directive issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who ordered the Federal Police to seize the senator’s passports within 24 hours amid an active investigation into alleged money laundering linked to sports betting operations and the financing of a biographical film titled Dark Horse. Bolsonaro denied the accusations, releasing a video via social media prior to his flight in which he stated his intention to hand over his documents and contest what he termed an intimidation attempt. Because his electoral defeat strips him of parliamentary immunity, the senator faced mounting legal exposure across multiple Supreme Court dockets before executing his departure.
Lula Criticizes Departure as Diplomatic Tensions Rise
President Lula criticized the departure, stating that the senator missed an opportunity to defend himself within the judicial system. The exit also caught political allies off guard, coming after Bolsonaro publicly insisted on Monday he would remain in Brazil to head the opposition. The arrival in Florida threatens to strain diplomatic relations between Brasilia and Washington further, particularly following public questioning of Brazilian electoral integrity by Trump. Meanwhile, questions remain regarding the long-term legal status of the Bolsonaro family in the United States, the precise nature of the visas issued by the State Department, and whether Brazilian authorities will formally request extradition as domestic court proceedings continue.
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📌 Brazil’s Flávio Bolsonaro Lands in Florida After Election DefeatBolsonaro disappeared for more than 24 hours, then entered Argentina on Tuesday night and boarded a private jet with his wife and two daughters. The family stopped briefly in Ecuador before flying to Florida,… pic.twitter.com/V3npYNtStE