Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, following his defeat in Sunday’s presidential runoff election. A senior U.S. official stated that the U.S. government will issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family, allowing them entry after they left Brazil despite a court order to surrender their travel documents.
The departure follows a Sunday, Oct. 25 election in which Bolsonaro lost to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by more than 4 million votes. Although his Liberal Party acknowledged the results on Monday, Bolsonaro has not officially conceded. On that same day, Brazil's Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports within 24 hours, citing the risk of flight as he faces investigations into money laundering and tax evasion.
Travel records from Argentina’s migration department indicate that Bolsonaro and his family crossed into Misiones province late Tuesday via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge. They subsequently boarded a private flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador, before landing at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on Wednesday morning. Uniformed officers escorted the family from the aircraft to waiting vehicles.
The decision by the U.S. State Department affects Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, his wife, and two daughters. The senator is currently a member of the Brazilian Senate, a position that grants him immunity from prosecution until his term ends in February 2027. By leaving Brazil, he avoids immediate compliance with a Supreme Court order that had barred him from international travel.
Senator Rogério Marinho, Bolsonaro's campaign manager, noted the departure complicates plans for Bolsonaro to lead the political opposition. The situation mirrors the 2022 departure of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who also traveled to the United States after an election loss before eventually returning to Brazil, where he was sentenced to 27 years in prison for a coup plot.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he approved of the move, describing the Bolsonaro family as "fine people." Conversely, President Lula described the departure as "shameful," stating that Bolsonaro should have remained in Brazil to defend himself against legal charges. As of late October, the Brazilian Supreme Court has not announced further measures regarding the violation of the passport surrender order, and Bolsonaro's Senate term remains active through early next year.