Dear US Officials,

Please take a stand for democracy and against rightwing violence by revoking the visa of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, currently residing in the US, and sending him back to Brazil to face justice.

On October 30, 2022, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was elected president of Brazil, defeating Jair Bolsonaro. Both before and after the election, Bolsonaro claimed, without evidence, that the Brazilian elections were rigged and fraudulent. International delegations accompanied the elections, and the Superior Electoral Tribunal certified the results.

On January 8, 2023, supporters of Bolsonaro invaded Brazilian government buildings, causing significant damage. In similar fashion to the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. election and the violence of January 6, the coupists attempted to spur the support of the Brazilian military, which so far has not occurred. For years, the media has reported that there is substantial evidence that allies of Trump have been advising Bolsonaro and his supporters on the course of action that resulted in the coup attempt.

In response, President Lula promptly ordered national police forces to clear the buildings and arrest those present. He also ordered an investigation into the sources of financing and why the Federal District’s police forces failed to act to prevent the attempted coup. There is substantial evidence the governor of the Federal District and his security minister (Bolsonaro’s ex-Minister of Justice), Anderson Torres, were complicit in the coup actions of January 8.

Two days before President Lula’s inauguration on January 1, Bolsonaro traveled to Orlando, Florida, prematurely vacating power. On January 6, two days before the coup attempt, Mr. Torres also traveled to Orlando, adding to suspicions that the coup was partially orchestrated from within the U.S. Through the investigation, the federal police found a draft of a presidential decree at the house of Mr. Torres to take over the Electoral Superior Court and install a new body to review the election’s results.

At present, Bolsonaro continues to be in Florida, where he has taken up temporary residency and according to multiple sources plans to stay for the foreseeable future.

Together with many others, I call upon your administration to revoke the visa of Brazil’s former president and expel him from the United States so that he can face justice in Brazil.

What happens to Bolsonaro when he returns to Brazil will be decided by the Brazilian people, as it should be. Returning him to Brazil will allow charges to be brought against him, if needed, as well as give the Brazilian people the chance to put their former president on trial for potential crimes.

Sending Brazil’s former president back to Brazil would send a strong message to rightwing extremists around the world.

Please stand with democracy and take action now to revoke Bolsonaro’s visa and expel him from the United States.

Thank you,