Brazil's ex-spy chief arrested by ICE after fleeing country

On Monday, a Brazilian senator revealed that the former leader of Brazil's intelligence agency, Alexandre Ramagem, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The senator is urging that he be granted political refuge in the United States.

Ramagem, who is also a former politician, received a 16-year prison sentence in September for his participation in the 2023 coup attempt by supporters of ex-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Brazilian federal police stated that he left Brazil before starting his prison term.

Sen. Jorge Seif mentioned on his social media platforms that he had notified the US embassy in Brasilia, arguing that Ramagem shouldn't stay in custody due to political persecution at home.

Seif did not offer details on the reasons for the former intelligence chief's detention.

ICE's online detainee records listed Ramagem as held in custody, though his location was not identified.

"The ongoing political persecution against President Bolsonaro, his family, and his supporters now extends to an elected official abroad," Seif stated. "In our communication (to the US embassy), we outlined all the arguments supporting Ramagem and his family's request for political refuge."

Brazil's federal police issued a statement earlier on Monday confirming that ICE detained "a person evading Brazilian justice after being sentenced for charges including armed criminal collaboration, coup attempt, and efforts to violently overthrow the rule of law." The statement did not directly name Ramagem.

Additionally, Brazil's federal police noted that this unidentified individual was recently given a sentence by the nation's highest court for the same charges as Ramagem.

Ramagem, aged 53, is a former police officer who led Brazil's principal intelligence agency, ABIN, under Bolsonaro's administration.

Later, he became a federal legislator but lost his seat following his conviction.

Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence linked to the conspiracy, which investigators claimed only failed due to insufficient military support.

According to local reports, Ramagem exited Brazil via the border with Guyana, avoiding immigration checks, and entered the US on a diplomatic passport.

Brazil officially sought Ramagem's extradition in December.

The police statement highlighted that the capture was a product of "international police collaboration between Federal Police and US law enforcement agencies."

Federal police have proposed that charges be filed against Ramagem and around 30 others, including the former president's son, Carlos Bolsonaro, in connection with this investigation.

Ex-President Bolsonaro has been serving his prison sentence under house detention for health issues since last month when he was transferred from prison to medical care due to bronchopneumonia.