Deported Brazilians report aggression and mistreatment on US flight

Brazilians deported from the United States reported problems with food, technical failures on the aircraft, mistreatment and attacks on the American flight that landed in Manaus.

A group of 84 repatriated Brazilians disembarked on Saturday night (25) at Confins-Belo Horizonte International Airport.

In total, the group consisted of 88 people — four Brazilians stayed in Manaus.

Matheus Henrique, 22 years old, from Rondônia, said that “it was more difficult to return than to go” to the United States.

“We suffered a bit of torture inside (the American flight)”, he stated. “We were all tied up, trapped: hands, feet, stomach… Children were feeling sick, fainting,” he added.

Security guard Jeferson Maia, also from Rondônia, stated that the attacks began on Manaus soil.

The aircraft was supposed to land at Confins Airport on Friday night (24), but ended up stopping in Manaus to refuel, according to the report. CNN .

However, while refueling, the aircraft began to experience technical problems with its air conditioning, causing turmoil among passengers.

According to Jeferson, some Brazilian citizens who spoke fluent English approached American agents to ask to leave the aircraft, a request that was refused. Then they were attacked.

“I sat until I reached my limit, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I asked [para sair] for them, and then (an agent) hanged me”, he stated.

“There was no way to stay calm. There were children crying,” he added. The Brazilian reported that he had not “eaten properly” for 40 hours and had not showered for five days.

The plane’s emergency stairs were activated amid the commotion, which led to the flight being canceled. The Brazilians themselves were responsible for activating the mechanism, according to reports made to the press in Confins.

Luiz Fernando, from the interior of Minas Gerais, had been in the United States for a year and a half. Detained in the country for 40 days, the Brazilian reported that a compatriot received a rear-naked choke and passed out from the blow.

“We ate (on the flight), but not much,” he said. “I was very shaken by the treatment they gave. My God in heaven… I’ve never seen anything like that”, he added.

Luiz Antônio, 21 years old and who lived in Brazil, in Teófilo Otoni (MG), said that Brazilians were treated “as they said immigrants would be treated”. “We couldn’t say anything,” he said.

More than one Brazilian reported that, when Federal Police (PF) agents wanted to board the flight in Manaus, American agents tried to unload them.

“It was the worst thing I went through in my life,” said Aelinton Cândido, 43 years old, from Divinópolis (MG).

Charge

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs classified the treatment given to Brazilians as “degrading” and said it will question Donald Trump’s government about the case.

On Saturday night (25), Chancellor Mauro Vieira met with the interim superintendent of the Federal Police in Amazonas, Sávio Pinzón, and with Brigadier Major Ramiro Pinheiro, commander of the 7th Regional Air Command, in Manaus, to gather reports on the American flight.

The group of deportees only left for Minas Gerais after the Brazilian government made a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) plane available to transport them, this Saturday morning.

The Brazilians left Manaus and BH already uncuffed, after the Ministry of Justice classified the Americans’ procedure as a “flagrant disrespect for the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens”.

THE CNN contacted the United States Embassy in Brasília, representing American interests in Brazil, asking for a position on the Brazilians’ reports.

At the time of publishing this text, there was no response. The space remains open for placements.

This content was originally published in Deported Brazilians report aggression and mistreatment on US flight on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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