Flavio Bolsonaro's US Arrival Post-Election Detfeat
US Officials grant Flavio Bolsonaro and his family visa after arriving in Miami; how did he escape? Details explained:
Flavio Bolsonaro and his family arrive in the United States: Brazil was bewildered by Flavio Bolsonaro’s secret flight to the United States hours after Brazil lost the election, sparking a frantic hunt for him. The Supreme Court ordered the son of imprisoned ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro to hand over his passports after he lost the election on Sunday, fearing he might flee the country while he is being investigated. But the losing right-wing presidential candidate did not hand them over but ran off to the United States through Argentina and Ecuador. AFP examines the frenetic 24 hours, which had the world scratching its head as Bolsonaro went off the grid.
- Refuses to concede -
Bolsonaro makes a brief, stone-faced speech from Brasilia on Sunday night following his electoral defeat to leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
He promises to seek the election's annulment and refuses to acknowledge the outcome. - Exit blocked -
The 45-year-old shares a video of herself speaking outdoors in front of a blank wall on Instagram the following day. He tells his followers that the Supreme Court has banned him from leaving the country in "a clear attempt to intimidate me."
"I never had any intention of leaving the country. I will surrender my passports and defend myself against this travesty," he said.
The ban on his travel is linked to one of several ongoing investigations against him.
- Vacant vehicle -
According to a report published on Tuesday by the Argentine media outlet Infobae, Bolsonaro intends to board a flight in the city of Puerto Iguazu in the northeast. Journalists, including AFP, witness Bolsonaro's official motorcade leaving his Brasilia residence.
It is initially impossible to know whether one of the three black cars is carrying him.
Local media reports the dispersal of the motorcade soon afterward, while the driver of the middle vehicle—usually transporting the politician—rolls down the window and shows that no one is on board.
- Turning dark: As speculation runs rampant, a police source confirms the cancellation of Bolsonaro's Brazilian and diplomatic passports to AFP.
Meanwhile, the defeated candidate is said to be on his way to the United States, according to American media. Back in Brazil, there is a lot of confusion, and the campaign manager for Bolsonaro claims that he does not know where his boss is. Rogerio Marinho, in shock, tells the press in Brasilia, "I received a text message from him this morning, where he said he would let some time pass today and then would talk with us, and that was it." - Hopping borders -
It turns out that while the world had been speculating on his whereabouts, Bolsonaro is still in Brazil.
He only crosses the border into Argentina at 0150 GMT on Wednesday, the neighboring country's immigration authorities announce—over 12 hours after the first reports emerge that he has left.
According to Argentine authorities, the senator arrives in Argentina "with valid travel documents and no legal impediment" via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge, which connects the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu with Puerto Iguazu. Flavio also has a passport from Italy. His route from Brasilia, more than 1,500 kilometers away, to Argentina is still unknown. Brazilian police say there is no official record of his departure from the country.
They say they are investigating his failure to hand over his passports, but this does not classify him as a fugitive.
- Flight -
A private jet then whisks Bolsonaro and his family to Ecuador's port city of Guayaquil, Argentine immigration authorities say.
The plane makes a brief refueling stop at the virtually empty airport.
AFP reporters witness the aircraft taking off again, and the FlightAware website shows that it is heading to Miami.
Some 927,000 people track its course via the website Flightradar.
- Upon Arrival—Around 12 hours after their departure from Argentina, the Bolsonaro family hits the tarmac at Florida's Opa-Locka airport.
According to the Department of Homeland Security's website for tracking border controls, he enters the United States with his expired diplomatic passport. Flavio Bolsonaro wears a black shirt and shoulders a backpack as he disembarks the plane alongside his wife and two daughters, AFP observes.
Minutes later, a vehicle drives away from the airport.
The ban on his travel is linked to one of several ongoing investigations against him.
- Unoccupied vehicle - On Tuesday, the Argentine outlet Infobae reports that Bolsonaro plans to board a flight to the northeastern city of Puerto Iguazu.
The official motorcade that left Bolsonaro's residence in Brasília was witnessed by journalists, including those of AFP. At first, it is impossible to determine which of the three black vehicles is carrying him. Local media reports the dispersal of the motorcade soon afterward, while the driver of the middle vehicle—usually transporting the politician—rolls down the window and shows that no one is on board.
- Turning dark: A police source tells AFP that Bolsonaro's Brazilian and diplomatic passports have been revoked amid rumors. American media, meanwhile, reports that the defeated candidate is en route to the US.
Back in Brazil, there is a lot of confusion, and the campaign manager for Bolsonaro claims that he does not know where his boss is. Rogerio Marinho, in shock, tells the press in Brasilia, "I received a text message from him this morning, where he said he would let some time pass today and then would talk with us, and that was it." - Crossing over borders - It turns out that while the world had been speculating on his whereabouts, Bolsonaro is still in Brazil.
The immigration authorities of the neighboring nation announce that he only enters Argentina at 01:50 GMT on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after the initial reports of his departure. The senator enters Argentina "with valid travel documents and no legal impediment" via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge linking the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu with Puerto Iguazu, Argentine authorities say.
Flavio also has a passport from Italy. It remains unknown how he got to Argentina from Brasilia, more than 1,500 kilometers away.
According to the Brazilian police, there is no official proof that he left the country. They say they are investigating his failure to hand over his passports, but this does not classify him as a fugitive.
- Flight -
A private jet then whisks Bolsonaro and his family to Ecuador's port city of Guayaquil, Argentine immigration authorities say.
The plane makes a brief, almost-empty airport refueling stop. The FlightAware website indicates that the aircraft is headed for Miami, and AFP reporters witness the aircraft taking off once more. Some 927,000 people track its course via the website Flightradar.
- Arrival -
The Bolsonaro family arrives at Florida's Opa-Locka airport about 12 hours after they left Argentina. He enters the United States with his cancelled diplomatic passport, according to the Department of Homeland Security website that tracks border controls.
Flavio Bolsonaro wears a black shirt and shoulders a backpack as he disembarks the plane alongside his wife and two daughters, AFP observes.
A car leaves the airport after a few minutes. The ban on his travel is linked to one of several ongoing investigations against him.
- Unoccupied vehicle - On Tuesday, the Argentine outlet Infobae reports that Bolsonaro plans to board a flight to the northeastern city of Puerto Iguazu.
The official motorcade that left Bolsonaro's residence in Brasília was witnessed by journalists, including those of AFP. It is initially impossible to know whether one of the three black cars is carrying him.
Soon after, the motorcade disperses, as the politician-transporting middle vehicle's driver rolls down the window to show that no one is aboard. This is reported by the local media. - Turning dark: A police source tells AFP that Bolsonaro's Brazilian and diplomatic passports have been revoked amid rumors. American media, meanwhile, reports that the defeated candidate is en route to the US.
Back in Brazil, there is a lot of confusion, and the campaign manager for Bolsonaro claims that he does not know where his boss is. Rogerio Marinho, in shock, tells the press in Brasilia, "I received a text message from him this morning, where he said he would let some time pass today and then would talk with us, and that was it." - Hopping borders -
It turns out that while the world had been speculating on his whereabouts, Bolsonaro is still in Brazil.
The immigration authorities of the neighboring nation announce that he only enters Argentina at 01:50 GMT on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after the initial reports of his departure. The senator enters Argentina "with valid travel documents and no legal impediment" via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge linking the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu with Puerto Iguazu, Argentine authorities say.
Flavio also has a passport from Italy. It remains unknown how he got to Argentina from Brasilia, more than 1,500 kilometers away.
According to the Brazilian police, there is no official proof that he left the country. Although they say they are looking into his refusal to hand over his passports, this does not make him a fugitive. - Travel—According to Argentine immigration authorities, a private jet then takes Bolsonaro and his family to the port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador. The plane makes a brief refueling stop at the virtually empty airport.
The FlightAware website indicates that the aircraft is headed for Miami, and AFP reporters witness the aircraft taking off once more. Through the website Flightradar, approximately 927,000 people monitor its progress. - Arrival -
The Bolsonaro family arrives at Florida's Opa-Locka airport about 12 hours after they left Argentina. According to the Department of Homeland Security's website for tracking border controls, he enters the United States with his expired diplomatic passport. According to AFP, Flavio Bolsonaro disembarks the plane with his wife and two daughters wearing a black shirt and carrying a backpack. Minutes later, a vehicle drives away from the airport.
The arrival of Flavio Bolsonaro and his family in the United States: Hours after Brazil's election was lost, Brazil was bewildered by Flavio Bolsonaro's covert escape to the United States, which sparked a frantic search for his whereabouts. After his electoral defeat on Sunday, the son of jailed former leader Jair Bolsonaro was ordered by the Supreme Court to forfeit his passports due to concerns that he would leave the country due to ongoing investigations. However, the defeated right-wing presidential candidate chose to flee to the United States via Argentina and Ecuador rather than surrender them. AFP takes a look at the frenzied 24-hours that left the world scratching its head as Bolsonaro went off the grid.
- Refuses to concede -
Bolsonaro makes a brief, stone-faced speech from Brasilia on Sunday night following his electoral defeat to leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
He promises to seek the election's annulment and refuses to acknowledge the outcome. - Exit blocked -
The 45-year-old shares a video of herself speaking outdoors in front of a blank wall on Instagram the following day. He tells his followers that the Supreme Court has banned him from leaving the country in "a clear attempt to intimidate me."
"I never had any intention of leaving the country. I will surrender my passports and defend myself against this travesty," he said.
The ban on his travel is linked to one of several ongoing investigations against him.
- Vacant vehicle -
According to a report published on Tuesday by the Argentine media outlet Infobae, Bolsonaro intends to board a flight in the city of Puerto Iguazu in the northeast. Journalists, including AFP, witness Bolsonaro's official motorcade leaving his Brasilia residence.
It is initially impossible to know whether one of the three black cars is carrying him.
Local media reports the dispersal of the motorcade soon afterward, while the driver of the middle vehicle—usually transporting the politician—rolls down the window and shows that no one is on board.
- Turning dark: As speculation runs rampant, a police source confirms the cancellation of Bolsonaro's Brazilian and diplomatic passports to AFP.
Meanwhile, the defeated candidate is said to be on his way to the United States, according to American media. Back in Brazil, there is a lot of confusion, and the campaign manager for Bolsonaro claims that he does not know where his boss is. Rogerio Marinho, in shock, tells the press in Brasilia, "I received a text message from him this morning, where he said he would let some time pass today and then would talk with us, and that was it." - Hopping borders -
It turns out that while the world had been speculating on his whereabouts, Bolsonaro is still in Brazil.
He only crosses the border into Argentina at 0150 GMT on Wednesday, the neighboring country's immigration authorities announce—over 12 hours after the first reports emerge that he has left.
According to Argentine authorities, the senator arrives in Argentina "with valid travel documents and no legal impediment" via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge, which connects the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu with Puerto Iguazu. Flavio also has a passport from Italy. His route from Brasilia, more than 1,500 kilometers away, to Argentina is still unknown. Brazilian police say there is no official record of his departure from the country.
They say they are investigating his failure to hand over his passports, but this does not classify him as a fugitive.
- Flight -
A private jet then whisks Bolsonaro and his family to Ecuador's port city of Guayaquil, Argentine immigration authorities say.
The plane makes a brief refueling stop at the virtually empty airport.
AFP reporters witness the aircraft taking off again, and the FlightAware website shows that it is heading to Miami.
Some 927,000 people track its course via the website Flightradar.
- Upon Arrival—Around 12 hours after their departure from Argentina, the Bolsonaro family hits the tarmac at Florida's Opa-Locka airport.
According to the Department of Homeland Security's website for tracking border controls, he enters the United States with his expired diplomatic passport. Flavio Bolsonaro wears a black shirt and shoulders a backpack as he disembarks the plane alongside his wife and two daughters, AFP observes.
Minutes later, a vehicle drives away from the airport.
The ban on his travel is linked to one of several ongoing investigations against him.
- Unoccupied vehicle - On Tuesday, the Argentine outlet Infobae reports that Bolsonaro plans to board a flight to the northeastern city of Puerto Iguazu.
The official motorcade that left Bolsonaro's residence in Brasília was witnessed by journalists, including those of AFP. At first, it is impossible to determine which of the three black vehicles is carrying him. Local media reports the dispersal of the motorcade soon afterward, while the driver of the middle vehicle—usually transporting the politician—rolls down the window and shows that no one is on board.
- Turning dark: A police source tells AFP that Bolsonaro's Brazilian and diplomatic passports have been revoked amid rumors. American media, meanwhile, reports that the defeated candidate is en route to the US.
Back in Brazil, there is a lot of confusion, and the campaign manager for Bolsonaro claims that he does not know where his boss is. Rogerio Marinho, in shock, tells the press in Brasilia, "I received a text message from him this morning, where he said he would let some time pass today and then would talk with us, and that was it." - Crossing over borders - It turns out that while the world had been speculating on his whereabouts, Bolsonaro is still in Brazil.
The immigration authorities of the neighboring nation announce that he only enters Argentina at 01:50 GMT on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after the initial reports of his departure. The senator enters Argentina "with valid travel documents and no legal impediment" via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge linking the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu with Puerto Iguazu, Argentine authorities say.
Flavio also has a passport from Italy. It remains unknown how he got to Argentina from Brasilia, more than 1,500 kilometers away.
According to the Brazilian police, there is no official proof that he left the country. They say they are investigating his failure to hand over his passports, but this does not classify him as a fugitive.
- Flight -
A private jet then whisks Bolsonaro and his family to Ecuador's port city of Guayaquil, Argentine immigration authorities say.
The plane makes a brief, almost-empty airport refueling stop. The FlightAware website indicates that the aircraft is headed for Miami, and AFP reporters witness the aircraft taking off once more. Some 927,000 people track its course via the website Flightradar.
- Arrival -
The Bolsonaro family arrives at Florida's Opa-Locka airport about 12 hours after they left Argentina. He enters the United States with his cancelled diplomatic passport, according to the Department of Homeland Security website that tracks border controls.
Flavio Bolsonaro wears a black shirt and shoulders a backpack as he disembarks the plane alongside his wife and two daughters, AFP observes.
A car leaves the airport after a few minutes. The ban on his travel is linked to one of several ongoing investigations against him.
- Unoccupied vehicle - On Tuesday, the Argentine outlet Infobae reports that Bolsonaro plans to board a flight to the northeastern city of Puerto Iguazu.
The official motorcade that left Bolsonaro's residence in Brasília was witnessed by journalists, including those of AFP. It is initially impossible to know whether one of the three black cars is carrying him.
Soon after, the motorcade disperses, as the politician-transporting middle vehicle's driver rolls down the window to show that no one is aboard. This is reported by the local media. - Turning dark: A police source tells AFP that Bolsonaro's Brazilian and diplomatic passports have been revoked amid rumors. American media, meanwhile, reports that the defeated candidate is en route to the US.
Back in Brazil, there is a lot of confusion, and the campaign manager for Bolsonaro claims that he does not know where his boss is. Rogerio Marinho, in shock, tells the press in Brasilia, "I received a text message from him this morning, where he said he would let some time pass today and then would talk with us, and that was it." - Hopping borders -
It turns out that while the world had been speculating on his whereabouts, Bolsonaro is still in Brazil.
The immigration authorities of the neighboring nation announce that he only enters Argentina at 01:50 GMT on Wednesday, more than 12 hours after the initial reports of his departure. The senator enters Argentina "with valid travel documents and no legal impediment" via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge linking the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu with Puerto Iguazu, Argentine authorities say.
Flavio also has a passport from Italy. It remains unknown how he got to Argentina from Brasilia, more than 1,500 kilometers away.
According to the Brazilian police, there is no official proof that he left the country. Although they say they are looking into his refusal to hand over his passports, this does not make him a fugitive. - Travel—According to Argentine immigration authorities, a private jet then takes Bolsonaro and his family to the port city of Guayaquil in Ecuador. The plane makes a brief refueling stop at the virtually empty airport.
The FlightAware website indicates that the aircraft is headed for Miami, and AFP reporters witness the aircraft taking off once more. Through the website Flightradar, approximately 927,000 people monitor its progress. - Arrival -
The Bolsonaro family arrives at Florida's Opa-Locka airport about 12 hours after they left Argentina. According to the Department of Homeland Security's website for tracking border controls, he enters the United States with his expired diplomatic passport. Flavio Bolsonaro, according to AFP, disembarks the plane with his wife and two daughters, wearing a black shirt and carrying a backpack. Minutes later, a vehicle drives away from the airport.
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