Lula da Silva’s government denounces that the Brazilians deported from the US were handcuffed and condemned the abuse

The Brazilian government condemned this Saturday the “contempt for the fundamental rights” of 88 Brazilians deported from the United States who were handcuffed during the tripaccording to a statement from the Executive of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The Brazilian Ministry of Justice ordered the US authorities to “immediately remove the handcuffs” when the plane with those expelled landed in Manaus (north), in repudiation of the “flagrant disregard for fundamental rights” of its citizens, he reported in an official note.

A Brazilian government source explained to AFP on Friday that this deportation “has no direct relationship” with the operation against illegal immigrants launched in the United States after the inauguration on January 20 of Donald Trump.

“This flight is inserted in another context: a bilateral understanding between Brazil and the United States, 2017, which remains in force,” the source said.

In the official note, the Brazilian authorities emphasized that “the dignity of the human person” is “one of the pillars of the democratic rule of law” and constitutes “non-negotiable values.”

The Federal Police (PF) reported in another statement that the flight from the United States landed on Friday night with “88 Brazilians” on board.

The aircraft was destined for the city of Belo Horizonte (southeast), but had a technical problem and had to spend the night in Manaus, originally planned as a stopover.

“The Brazilians who arrived handcuffed were immediately released from the handcuffs,” stated the PF, “in guarantee of Brazilian sovereignty in national territory.”

The president of Brazil, Lula da Silva, ordered this Saturday that a Brazilian Air Force plane take over the transfer of the deportees to their final destination, Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais.

In his first days in office, Trump ordered several measures against illegal migration, including deportations, the deployment of troops on the border with Mexico and the arrest of 538 people in an illegal situation, according to the White House reported Thursday night.

In addition, On Friday, 265 people were deported from the United States to Guatemala, although the authorities of both countries have not clarified whether they are part of the group of arrestees.

Trump incessantly attacked illegal immigrants during his campaign, describing them as “savages,” “animals,” and “criminals.” He promised the largest deportation campaign in the history of the United States, where it is estimated that nearly 11 million people live in an irregular situation.

A Brazilian government source said that the deportees who arrived in Manaus traveled “with their personal documents,” which shows that they “agree” with returning to the country.

In Brazil they will be able to “remain free” after having been detained in the United States with a “final decision of deportation without the possibility of appeal,” the source explained.