“Regarding the supposed ‘arrest’ of Alexandre Ramagem, some objective clarifications:

1. Ramagem was not arrested, but detained after a police approach in Orlando, initially for a minor traffic violation and then referred to ICE — a common procedure in Florida.

2. At this moment, this is purely an immigration matter. However, Ramagem’s status is LEGAL: he has a pending asylum request, filed some time ago and still under review, which allows him to remain legally in the United States until a final decision is made — a process that takes time but is likely to be approved.

3. Immigrex, the company of which I am a partner, is providing full assistance to Ramagem and his family. Our expectation is that he will be released as quickly as possible and, at this time, we see no risk of deportation. The ICE process is also bureaucratic and depends on formal registration in the agency’s system for the next steps to be taken.

4. Extradition and deportation have absolutely nothing to do with each other: extradition is a political-diplomatic process between states, handled by the State Department; deportation is an internal administrative immigration procedure. This case is exclusively immigration-related.

5. To make it absolutely clear: the Brazilian government had no involvement in this episode. This is a standard procedure of U.S. immigration. It has absolutely nothing to do with Brazil’s extradition request, which remains under review by the State Department.”

“The former congressman and federal police officer Alexandre Ramagem was detained today by ICE over a matter of a purely immigration nature. He has an ongoing asylum request, is well supported legally, and there is an expectation that he will be released soon.

I am convinced that the American authorities will recognize the validity of this request and understand that Ramagem is yet another political persecuted individual, a victim of the same absurd narrative that led to my father’s arrest.

This will come to an end. Next year, Brazil will no longer have prisoners, exiles, or asylum seekers due to political persecution. The country will once again become an example of democracy.”