Brazil has accused the United States of America and President Donald Trump of “blatant disrespect” after 88 Brazilian migrants were deported with their hands firmly cuffed.
The flight, which carried 88 Brazilian passengers, 16 US security agents, and eight crew members, made an unscheduled landing in Manaus, Brazil, due to technical issues.
Brazilian officials demanded that US agents remove the handcuffs from the deportees, which was done after the intervention of Brazilian police.
The Brazilian government has condemned the use of handcuffs as a “blatant disrespect” for the rights of Brazilian citizens.
This incident marks the second deportation of undocumented migrants from the US to Brazil this year and the first since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The Trump administration has initiated a broad immigration crackdown, with President Trump pledging to implement mass deportations to remove undocumented migrants from the US.
The use of handcuffs and other restraints on migrants deported on flights from the US to Brazil has sparked controversy in Brazil.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva directed that the passengers be transported to their final destination aboard a Brazilian Air Force plane, ensuring they could complete their journey with “dignity and safety.”
Trump’s deportation policy
Donald Trump’s agenda on deporting illegal migrants has been a topic of discussion for a while now.
During his campaign, Trump vowed to begin “the largest deportation program in American history”.
He claimed that the US has over 20 million immigrants living illegally, although the Pew Research Center estimates the number to be around 11 million as of mid-2022.
Trump’s plan involves targeting immigrants who have committed crimes and those whose asylum bids were denied.
He aims to deport around 1.5 million immigrants who have committed crimes, and another 1.3 million whose asylum bids were denied.
However, experts have raised concerns about the logistical and financial challenges of such a massive deportation program.
The estimated cost of a one-time mass deportation of all immigrants without legal status is around $315 billion, while a years-long deportation program could cost nearly $1 trillion.
Additionally, many economists believe that mass deportations would have negative impacts on the US economy, including lower GDP, reduced employment, and lower wages for citizens and authorized immigrants.
It’s worth noting that Trump’s deportation plan has been criticized for being overly aggressive and potentially harmful to the US economy.
While some experts believe that a strict enforcement climate could encourage more immigrants to leave on their own, others argue that mass deportations would lead to labor market disruptions and hurt US-born workers.