Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is facing a probe by the government of Lula over the January 8th riot in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. The riot was carried out by his supporters. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro is seeking a six-month visa to stay in the United States.
According to AFP, Bolsonaro may have entered the United States with a visa for visiting world leaders, and he has now requested a six-month visa to stay in the country. A California-based law firm, AG Immigration Group, has confirmed the former president’s request in a statement, saying they look forward to “achieving the highest level of satisfaction and desired results for our client.”
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Earlier, Bolsonaro had stated that he planned to return to Brazil by the end of January, but this may change due to health reasons. Bolsonaro sustained a knife injury in 2018, which has caused ongoing health complications.
The State Department has declined to comment on Bolsonaro’s visa application, stating that visa records are confidential under US law and cannot be discussed. However, this has not stopped several US lawmakers from calling on the Biden administration to send Bolsonaro back to Brazil.
These lawmakers argue that as a visiting head of state, Bolsonaro no longer has the right to stay in the United States. In a letter signed by several lawmakers, including Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Joaquin Castro, a prominent progressive Democrat, they wrote: “The United States must not provide shelter for him or any authoritarian who has inspired such violence against democratic institutions.”
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Conclusion
Bolsonaro’s request for a six-month visa to stay in the United States has sparked controversy and has brought attention to the January 8th riot in Brasilia. The Brazilian government is investigating the former president, while US lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to send him back to Brazil.