Conservative Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in the United States following his defeat in the presidential runoff, after defying a Supreme Federal Court order to surrender his passports within 24 hours, nova.bg reported. The 45-year-old son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro made the journey with his wife and two daughters, with family sources indicating that the primary motivation was fear of arrest.
Flight Through Argentina and Private Jet to Ecuador
Brazilian and American media outlets reported that Bolsonaro entered the United States via Argentina. According to Argentina’s National Directorate for Migration, he crossed the land border using regular travel documents without legal obstacles. From there, he boarded a private aircraft operated by Baires Fly S.A. bound for Guayaquil, Ecuador, before continuing to the United States. Meanwhile, a high-ranking U.S. State Department official stated that Washington would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family and permit their entry into the country.
Federal authorities invalidate passports after Senator Bolsonaro misses surrender deadline
The departure followed a Supreme Federal Court directive from Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordering the senator to surrender his travel documents to the Federal Police by 11:00 on Tuesday. When Bolsonaro failed to comply within the 24-hour window, federal authorities invalidated both his ordinary and diplomatic passports in the system. The 45-year-old senator faces multiple domestic investigations for alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered a fresh inquiry into potential illegal foreign campaign financing and Meta social media manipulation.
President Lula condemns potential flight as family faces historical precedents
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the presidential runoff with 52% of the vote—representing over 64 million votes against under 60 million for Bolsonaro, who has not conceded defeat. Lula stated that it would be shameful if his rival fled to the country, while campaign coordinator Senator Rogerio Marino admitted his own staff did not know Bolsonaro’s location. The situation mirrors that of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who traveled to the U.S. after losing the 2022 election and is currently serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for a coup attempt. Eduardo Bolsonaro—Flavio's brother who has resided in Texas since February 2025—had publicly supported his brother leaving Brazil in the event of an election loss due to the ongoing investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flavio Bolsonaro’s Departure
Why were Flavio Bolsonaro’s passports invalidated?
Authorities canceled his ordinary and diplomatic passports after he missed a 24-hour deadline set by Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to surrender the documents to the Federal Police.
What did U.S. President Donald Trump say about the arrival?
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland that he approved of the Brazilian senator’s arrival, describing them as good people and calling the election very strange and terrible, according to Reuters.
Does Flavio Bolsonaro hold dual citizenship?
An Italian parliamentary document reviewed by Agence France-Presse reveals that Bolsonaro has held Italian citizenship since 2023.
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