Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro touched down at Opa-locka Executive Airport in Miami this Wednesday, accompanied by his wife and two teenage daughters. His arrival follows an escape from Brazil in defiance of a judicial mandate that barred him from leaving the country and required him to surrender his passports, as confirmed by Reuters and EFE.
This development comes just days after Bolsonaro's defeat in the presidential runoff last Sunday to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula secured victory with 51.79% of the vote against Bolsonaro's 48.21%, a margin exceeding 4.4 million ballots.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court had decreed on Monday that Bolsonaro hand over both his ordinary and diplomatic passports within 24 hours, prohibiting him from departing Brazil. This order was issued amid an investigation into alleged money laundering tied to attorney Willer Tomaz, accused of laundering over $1 billion.
Despite the expiration of the deadline without compliance, Brazilian Federal Police annulled both passports and issued a migration alert. However, Bolsonaro circumvented these measures by utilizing his Italian passport, a citizenship acquired in 2023 that Brazilian authorities are powerless to revoke.
Argentinian migration officials confirmed the escape route: the family crossed by land on Tuesday night via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge in Misiones Province, with all documentation in order. At 11:30 PM local time, they boarded a private flight from Puerto Iguazú Airport bound for Guayaquil, Ecuador. From there, a Gulfstream G400 operated by Baires Fly completed the journey to Miami, touching down at 9:18 AM local time.
The Trump administration actively facilitated the operation. The White House confirmed on Tuesday that the State Department would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family. "The State Department will issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family and has authorized their entry into the United States," a spokesperson stated, as reported by ABC correspondent David Alandete. Trump, when asked by reporters at Joint Base Andrews, was brief: "I'd approve it. I think they're good people."
The arrival was broadcast live by CNN Brazil, showing Bolsonaro disembarking the aircraft with an American security officer. His allies had urged him not to leave Brazil or the political movement inherited from his father, but Bolsonaro disregarded their advice.
The contrast with his own words is stark: just on Monday, prior to news of his escape, Bolsonaro had declared, "I've never considered leaving the country. I will hand over my passports and defend myself against this farce, which is a blatant attempt to intimidate me."
Flávio is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced in September 2025 to 27 years and three months in prison by the Supreme Federal Court for leading an attempted coup following his 2022 election defeat. From prison, Jair appointed him as the presidential candidate for the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party officially acknowledged Lula's victory on Monday, although Flávio initially refused to concede and announced plans to contest the election results.
President Lula condemned Bolsonaro's exit from Brazil as "shameful." His arrival in Miami now raises deep questions about the senator's political and judicial future, as well as the diplomatic repercussions for Brazil-U.S. relations.
Key Questions About Flávio Bolsonaro's Escape to Miami
Why did Flávio Bolsonaro flee to Miami?
Flávio Bolsonaro fled to Miami to escape a judicial order in Brazil that barred him from leaving the country and required him to surrender his passports amid a money laundering investigation.
How did Flávio Bolsonaro manage to leave Brazil despite passport cancellation?
Bolsonaro used his Italian passport, which he obtained in 2023, to evade Brazilian authorities who had canceled his Brazilian passports and issued a migration alert.
What role did the Trump administration play in Bolsonaro's arrival in the U.S.?
The Trump administration facilitated the operation by confirming that the State Department would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family, allowing them entry into the United States.