US Rep Robert Garcia asks Trump administration to deport Flávio Bolsonaro
United States Representative Robert Garcia formally asked the administration of President Donald Trump to deport Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro and provide explanations regarding his entry into the country.
Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in the United States with his family following the October 24, 2026, presidential runoff election, which he lost to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The departure occurred after the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court ordered the surrender of his passports amid investigations concerning alleged corruption, money laundering, and capital flight.
Congressional Inquiry into U.S. Border Entry and Travel Logistics
In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Robert Garcia questioned the justifications that allowed the Brazilian politician to enter and remain in American territory. The California Democrat contrasted current immigration enforcement with the circumstances surrounding the senator’s arrival.
The lawmaker asked why the administration permitted entry to an individual facing serious legal scrutiny abroad. The congressional inquiry also targets potential diplomatic or administrative assistance from U.S. authorities.
Reporting from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal indicated that the aircraft used for the journey was chartered by Jason Miller, an adviser to the United States president. A director for the charter company confirmed to Agence France-Presse that an intermediary paid for the flight from an American bank account.
The letter also inquires about the legal basis for granting visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his relatives, alongside a potential connection to the Rockbridge Network, a conservative group linked to Vice President J.D. Vance.
Lawmakers Question U.S. Assistance for Departure
The latest congressional intervention builds upon prior inquiries initiated by other members of the Democratic Party. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove previously led a group of 25 lawmakers in sending a separate letter to the State Department to question potential U.S. government assistance during the departure and relocation.
The timeline established by the congressional inquiries indicates that Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil on October 27, 2026, crossing the border into Argentina before boarding a private flight northward.