Former Brazilian Spy Chief Arrested by ICE, Lawmaker Asks for U.S. Asylum

Brazilian Senator Jorge Seif announced on Monday that former intelligence agency chief Alexandre Ramagem was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is seeking political asylum in the United States.

Ramagem, a former lawmaker, was sentenced in September to 16 years in prison for his role in the coup attempt by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in 2023. Brazil’s federal police stated that he fled the country before serving his sentence.

Seif informed the U.S. embassy in Brasilia about Ramagem and did not disclose why he was placed under custody. On Monday, Ramagem appeared in ICE’s online detainee database without specifying where he is being held.

“Political persecution against President Bolsonaro, his sons, and allies has now reached an elected lawmaker abroad,” Seif said. “In our document to the U.S. embassy, we provided all reasons justifying and defending the concession of political asylum for Ramagem and his family.”

Ramagem was stripped of his seat in Brazil’s congress in December following his conviction in the coup case.

Brazil’s federal police stated that ICE detained a fugitive from Brazilian justice convicted of armed criminal association, attempted coup d’etat, and attempted violent abolition of the rule of law. The unnamed fugitive was recently sentenced by Brazil’s top court for the same three counts as Ramagem’s conviction.

ICE and Ramagem’s lawyer did not comment on requests from The Associated Press.

Ramagem, 53, is a former police officer who commanded Brazil’s main intelligence agency, ABIN, under Bolsonaro. He was later elected to federal office but lost his seat after conviction.

Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year jail term for the conspiracy, which prosecutors said failed due to lack of military support.

Local media reported that Ramagem left via Guyana border and entered the U.S. on a diplomatic passport. Brazil formally requested Ramagem’s extradition in December.

The police statement said the arrest was the result of international cooperation between Federal Police and U.S. law enforcement authorities.

Bolsonaro ally Paulo Renato Figueiredo, who lives in the U.S., wrote on X that Ramagem had been detained for a minor traffic infraction. He stated that Ramagem’s immigration status is legal and he has pending asylum application.

In a separate case, federal police recommended charges be brought against Ramagem and around 30 others, including Bolsonaro’s son Carlos Bolsonaro, in connection with illegal spying on behalf of the far-right leader using Israeli surveillance software.