A former Brazilian intelligence director who was detained by U.S. immigration authorities earlier this week has been freed and is crediting President Donald Trump for his release, despite offering no proof of the president’s involvement.
Alexandre Ramagem, who previously headed Brazil’s intelligence agency and served as a congressman, was released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after spending two days in custody. He had been sentenced to 16 years behind bars in Brazil last September for participating in the 2023 coup attempt orchestrated by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Rather than begin serving his prison term, Ramagem escaped from Brazil and has been seeking political asylum in the United States.
“I am here to thank the U.S. government, the highest ranking members of the Trump administration,” Ramagem stated through his social media accounts. He noted that his freedom “did not require any bail payment, which is common in migration cases” such as his own situation.
Immigration officials took Ramagem into custody on Monday while he was in Florida. That same day, Brazilian senator Jorge Seif contacted the U.S. embassy in Brazil’s capital, arguing that his political ally should be freed because he was facing persecution in his home country.
According to local news outlets, Ramagem was set free late Wednesday evening.
The former intelligence official had previously submitted an application for political asylum, but U.S. authorities have not yet made a determination on his request.
Records from ICE’s online detainee system confirmed Ramagem was in federal custody on Monday. The agency has not responded to media inquiries seeking comment about the circumstances surrounding his release.
In December, Brazil’s congress voted to remove Ramagem from his legislative seat as a direct result of his criminal conviction related to the attempted coup.
