Brazil Politics: Flávio Bolsonaro Arrives in Miami

Brazilian political figures have recently moved between South America and Florida to manage legal risks at home. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday morning, ending days of uncertainty regarding his location after losing the presidential election on Sunday.

Bolsonaro and his family traveled on a private jet from Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, to Guayaquil, Ecuador, before continuing to the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport. Flight tracking data verified by the BBC indicates the aircraft departed Argentina at 12:18 local time on Wednesday. The senator disembarked just before 09:30 local time, surrounded by photographers.

His arrival followed a confusing sequence of events triggered by a failed deadline to surrender his passports. Brazilian authorities cancelled his travel documents because he did not meet the 24-hour deadline, citing an ongoing criminal investigation. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing in those cases. Initially, rumors suggested he had fled to Argentina, but police checked border crossings early Tuesday and found no evidence of his departure.

Speculation intensified when sources told broadcasters that he was en route to the United States. The US State Department confirmed it would grant visas to Bolsonaro and his family. Hours later, Argentine migration authorities posted that he, his wife, and two daughters had crossed the land border into Argentina on Tuesday night. US President Donald Trump told reporters he had heard Bolsonaro was in Argentina.

In a statement issued after landing, Bolsonaro called himself the true elected president and thanked the American government for allowing his family entry. He described the situation as political persecution and stated that his move was intended to protect his family. He also labeled his supporters' loss a coup d'état by a criminal organization.

Reelected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the departure, saying that those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear. Bolsonaro is currently subject to two investigations by Brazil's Supreme Federal Court. One probe looks into a nearly $70 million transfer from Banco Master to a film about his father, while the other examines alleged money laundering.

His parliamentary immunity expires on January 31, when his Senate term ends. His brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, who was convicted in absentia earlier this year for lobbying in the US, was also in Miami with him. Neither brother could be reached directly for comment at the time of arrival.