The private jet that took Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) out of Brazil after his defeat in the presidential election was arranged by a White House official, according to a New York Times report published on Thursday (29). The newspaper says the senator is in Florida under a temporary entry authorization granted by order of President Donald Trump and is expected to apply for permanent residency in the United States.
The aircraft was organized by Jason Miller, a White House communications official and an ally of the Bolsonaro family, the NYT reported. According to the investigation, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the senator's younger brother, who lives in Texas and keeps close ties to the Trump administration, contacted Miller as soon as Flávio was ordered to surrender his passports by Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF). The plan was set in motion on Monday (26). Flávio left Argentina on Tuesday night (27), stopped in Ecuador to refuel and landed in Miami on Wednesday morning (28). The Wall Street Journal had previously reported Miller's involvement; he declined to comment.
The episode hands each government involved a different role. Washington, under Trump, took in the defeated ally and is preparing his immigration regularization, even though the American president says he did not take sides in the election "at Lula's request". The Argentine government of Javier Milei is now being investigated by Brazil's Federal Police over suspected participation in the border crossing, and the opposition in Buenos Aires is demanding explanations from Milei about the alleged assistance, according to Valor Econômico. For the Lula government, reelected with 51.79% of valid votes against 48.21% for Flávio, the senator's departure with direct support from a foreign government creates a diplomatic embarrassment just as Brasilia organizes the transition to Lula's fourth term.
Immigration status and a canceled passport
United States immigration agents allowed Flávio and his family to enter under the regime known as parole, a temporary authorization normally granted for humanitarian reasons, according to an American official heard by the NYT. A public record analyzed by the newspaper suggests the senator presented a canceled Brazilian diplomatic passport upon arrival. The Department of Homeland Security said the group "was received and inspected by US Customs and Border Protection, in accordance with applicable immigration laws and procedures".
American officials expect Flávio to apply for permanent residency, the so-called green card, through an expedited process similar to the one granted to Eduardo Bolsonaro, who obtained the document in July. On Wednesday, Trump said the senator had received a "pass" to enter the country. On Thursday, the American president called the Brazilian election "a disgrace", but said he will phone Lula to congratulate him.
In Brazil, the Federal Police are investigating the escape route between Brasilia and Foz do Iguaçu, on the border with Argentina, and examining whether businesspeople and political allies provided logistical or financial support to the senator. Flávio is under investigation in a money laundering inquiry that also targets lawyer Willer Tomaz, who has been in the United States since August. Because he is only under investigation, the police do not treat him as a fugitive: the probe into his departure stems from his failure to comply with the court order to surrender his passports.