US grants visas to Bolsonaro family
State Department confirms approval for the senator and relatives after his loss in Brazil's presidential runoff.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
The United States State Department confirmed on Tuesday, October 27, that it will issue visas to Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro and his family. A senior official made the announcement to The Associated Press. The decision comes one day after Bolsonaro lost the presidential runoff election to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lula secured 51.8 percent of the vote in the Sunday contest. Bolsonaro has not conceded the result. He alleges electoral irregularities but has not provided supporting evidence for those claims. His current location remains unknown. Lula stated that Bolsonaro has left Brazil. Government officials have not confirmed whether the senator is traveling to the United States.
Bolsonaro faces legal scrutiny in his home country. Brazilian authorities are investigating him for alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. He denies all accusations. The judicial branch has ordered him to surrender both his regular and diplomatic passports. The visa approval allows his family to enter the US under standard diplomatic protocols.
President Donald Trump has maintained friendly relations with the Bolsonaro family. He publicly stated that he would welcome the senator and his relatives to the United States. The visa grant formalizes that welcome through the State Department process. This development adds a new layer to the political uncertainty surrounding Bolsonaro's status after the election.
The US decision impacts the immediate travel options available to the senator and his household. It distinguishes their status from other Brazilian political figures who remain in the country. The State Department did not specify the exact visa category or the timeline for issuance. The approval stands as a definitive administrative action by the US government.
Source: KBOI · original report published
