Brazil fumes as immigrants deported by US arrive handcuffed: 'Flagrant disregard of human rights'

Brazil said it will question the US government over the treatment meted out to 88 of its nationals. (File Photo)

The arrival of 88 Brazilians deported by the United States in the Brazil's Manaus has left the south American nation's government fuming over the treatment meted out to the passengers by the US authorities. Brazil's Foreign ministry said it will demand an explanation from the Donald Trump administration for what it termed as a "flagrant disregard" of human rights.

The 88 passengers arrived by plane in handcuffs, reports AFP, with passengers denied water or use of washrooms besides braving respiratory issues as the air conditioners remained non-functional.

According to Brazil's Justice ministry, when the plane landed in Manaus, authorities found 88 Brazilian passengers in handcuffs. The statement read that the authorities then directed that the US officials to "immediately remove the handcuffs", adding that Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski told President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of "the flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens".

BRAZIL SLAMS HANDCUFFS ON DEPORTEESTRUMP ADMIN UNMOVEDBrazil called the use of handcuffs on deportees "blatant disrespect," demanding their removal mid-flight during an unexpected landing in Manaus.The Trump administration, now ramping up mass deportations, sees the https://t.co/C1DdUEQCIBpic.twitter.com/N0jKCp7yHK

Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 26, 2025

Brazil said it will request "explanations from the US government about the degrading treatment of passengers" on the Friday night flight, the Brazilian Foreign ministry said on X.

Among Brazilians on the flight was Edgar Da Silva Moura, a 31-year-old computer technician, who was in detention in the United States for seven months before being deported.

"On the plane, they didn't give us water, we were tied hands and feet, they wouldn't even let us go to the bathroom (sic)," he told news agency AFP. "It was very hot, some people fainted," Moura said.

Twenty-one-year-old Luis Antonio Rodrigues Santos, who was also on the flight, recounted the "nightmare" of people with "respiratory problems" during "four hours without air conditioning" due to technical issues on the plane.

The development comes as the US administration under President Trump begins implementing its hard line on illegal immigrants. Since returning to power, mass deportation of illegal immigrants has taken place with several planes flying them to countries like Guatemala and Brazil.

However, the AFP reports citing a US government source that the deportation flight to Manaus wasn't directly linked to any immigration orders issued by Trump upon taking office but rather stemmed from a 2017 bilateral agreement.

Brazil's Minister of Human Rights, Macae Evaristo, told journalists that "children with autism ... who went through very serious experiences" were also on the flight.

Footage on Brazilian television showed some passengers descending from the civilian aircraft, with their hands handcuffed and their ankles shackled.

"Upon learning of the situation, President Lula ordered that a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft be mobilized to transport the Brazilians to their final destination, in order to ensure that they could complete their journey with dignity and safety," the justice ministry said.

A Brazilian government source told AFP that the deportees who arrived in Manaus travelled "with their documents", which shows that they agreed to return home.