Former Brazilian Intelligence Chief Detained by ICE in Florida

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called ‌on Alexandre Ramagem to return to Brazil to serve his sentence.

Alexandre Ramagem (R), mayoral pre-candidate for Rio de Janeiro, speaks as former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (L) listens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 18, 2024. Bruna Prado/AP

Alexandre Ramagem, a former chief of the Brazilian intelligence agency and a close ally of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Orlando, Florida.

Ramagem was chief of the ABIN intelligence agency from 2019 until 2022, when he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, representing Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party.