On his first day in office, President Donald Trump enacted a series of executive orders aimed at significantly altering immigration policies in the United States. Among these actions was a declaration of a “national emergency” at the southern border, coupled with the announcement of additional troop deployments to the area and a commitment to deport “criminal aliens.”
Inhumane treatment of deportees revealed
Recent reports have surfaced detailing the harrowing experiences of illegal immigrants being deported from the U.S. These individuals have allegedly faced inhumane conditions during their return journeys. Eyewitness accounts reveal that deportees were handcuffed on flights that lacked air conditioning, leading to severe discomfort and anger from their home countries. Following a crackdown on irregular migration and mass deportations, a group of illegal migrants arrived in Brazil, sparking outrage among Brazilian officials.
One flight that landed in Manaus, Brazil, carried 88 Brazilians in handcuffs. The Brazilian Ministry of Justice expressed its discontent, demanding that U.S. authorities “immediately remove the handcuffs.” Edgar Da Silva Moura, one of the deportees, recounted his ordeal to the news agency AFP: “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. It was very hot; some people fainted.”
Brazilian government’s response
The Brazilian government has condemned what it describes as a “flagrant disregard” for human rights during these deportations. In an official statement, Brazil’s foreign ministry called for explanations from the U.S. regarding the treatment of passengers on a recent flight.
Luis Antonio Rodrigues Santos, a 21-year-old deportee, shared his distressing experience: “Things have already changed (with Trump); immigrants are treated as criminals.” He highlighted the plight of fellow passengers with “respiratory problems” who endured “four hours without air conditioning” due to technical issues on the aircraft. Brazil’s Minister of Human Rights, Macae Evaristo, noted that vulnerable individuals, including “children with autism who went through very serious experiences,” were also on board. Footage broadcasted on Brazilian television showed deportees disembarking from the plane with their hands and ankles shackled.
Clarification on deportation flights
Despite the uproar surrounding these flights, reports indicate that they are not directly tied to any new immigration orders issued by Trump upon taking office. Instead, they originate from a bilateral agreement established in 2017.
In response to the situation, Brazilian President Lula ordered a Brazilian Air Force aircraft to transport the deportees to their final destinations safely and with dignity. A government source confirmed that those who arrived in Manaus traveled “with their documents,” suggesting they had consented to return home.
The broader context of Trump’s immigration policies
President Trump’s recent actions mark a continuation of his administration’s hardline stance on immigration. Upon beginning his second term, he swiftly signed executive orders aimed at overhauling entry protocols into the United States. This included declaring a “national emergency” at the southern border and deploying additional military resources while emphasizing a commitment to deporting individuals deemed as “criminal aliens.”
In an unprecedented move, the Trump administration has begun utilizing military aircraft for repatriation flights. According to estimates from the Department of Homeland Security, there are approximately 11 million undocumented migrants currently residing in the United States.
As this situation evolves, both domestic and international observers will be closely monitoring how these policies impact human rights and immigration practices moving forward.
