Lula Discusses Trump Administration Flights
The socialist government of Brazil, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has taken issue with the United States after 88 of its citizens, all illegal immigrants, were deported in handcuffs last Friday. The move, part of the Trump administration's firm crackdown on illegal immigration, has sparked outrage among Brazilian officials, who are now accusing the U.S. of “degrading” treatment of their citizens.
According to reports, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned U.S. representative Gabriel Escobar for an explanation regarding the handcuffing policy. Escobar, who has been serving as the Charge d’Affaires since President Trump’s inauguration, represents the United States in Brazil as the administration prepares to appoint a permanent ambassador. Brazil is demanding answers, with officials claiming that the use of restraints violated international agreements and human rights norms.
“The indiscriminate use of handcuffs and chains violates the terms of the agreement with the U.S., which provides for the dignified, respectful, and humane treatment of repatriates,” Brazil’s foreign ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, Brazil’s Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski pontificated about the need for “respect for the dignity of people and for fundamental human rights,” as though the rule of law in immigration matters is somehow an affront to his socialist sensibilities.
MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN: Osman Antonio Abelar Rubio, a Honduran national with convictions for driving while impaired and pending charges including assault and firearm offenses, was arrested by ICE Atlanta on January 25, 2025. pic.twitter.com/2PcvTL5WE8
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 26, 2025
Let’s get one thing straight: handcuffing illegal immigrants on deportation flights is not some new policy conjured up by President Donald Trump. It’s been standard procedure under multiple administrations—including Biden’s—to ensure the safety of flight crews, officers, and even the deportees themselves. This is about security, not humiliation. And let’s not forget that the handcuffs are removed before landing, a fact conveniently ignored by those hurling accusations.
But the complaints didn’t stop there. Some deportees grumbled about the lack of air conditioning on the plane, while others, like Carlos Vinicius de Jesus, made unverifiable claims of mistreatment, alleging threats and abuse from U.S. officials. He even claimed he was told the plane would crash. Sure. Because ICE agents are apparently out here auditioning for a bad Hollywood script.
What’s truly "degrading" is the situation that led to these deportations in the first place. These individuals entered the United States illegally, many committing crimes along the way. President Trump has made it clear that his administration will not tolerate the lawlessness that flourished under Biden, and these deportations are a direct result of that commitment. ICE has already removed thousands of dangerous individuals, including pedophiles, gang members, and even convicted terrorists. The Brazilian press can cry foul all it wants, but this is about securing American communities—not catering to foreign governments.
The tensions between Lula and Trump are hardly surprising. Lula, a proud leftist who cheered for Kamala Harris during the U.S. election, has made his disdain for Trump no secret. His rhetoric has been as predictable as it is hypocritical, accusing Trump of promoting “fascism” while overseeing a Brazilian Supreme Court that ruthlessly persecutes his political rivals. Lula’s political enemy, former President Jair Bolsonaro—dubbed the "Trump of the Tropics"—was even barred from attending Trump’s inauguration thanks to Brazil’s activist judiciary, which has made a sport of silencing dissenting voices.
The double standards are glaring. While Lula lectures the U.S. on "dignity" and "human rights," his own government has targeted conservatives like Bolsonaro’s senior aide Filipe Martins, imprisoning him for six months without trial. Martins remains under house arrest with draconian restrictions that silence him on social media. So much for Lula’s supposed commitment to human rights.