Brazil Demands U.S. Explanations Over Handcuffed Deportees

Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is demanding explanations from the U.S. government regarding the 'degrading treatment' of 88 Brazilian deportees who arrived in handcuffs after being flown back from the United States. The flight, originally scheduled to land in Belo Horizonte, had to divert to Manaus due to technical issues, where Brazilian authorities ordered the removal of handcuffs and arranged for a Brazilian Air Force flight to complete the journey. Reports from passengers indicate mistreatment during the flight, including lack of water and air conditioning, leading to health concerns. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski criticized the treatment as a 'flagrant disregard' for the rights of Brazilian citizens, highlighting the distress faced by deportees, including children. While the incident coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump's return to a hardline immigration policy, the deportation flight was linked to a 2017 bilateral agreement rather than new orders from his administration. The Brazilian government is seeking accountability from the U.S. in light of these events.