On June 11, 2022, Brazilian society abroad witnessed an unprecedented political act. On a visit to the United States, the Brazilian president participated in a motorcycle ride, organized by his supporters, through the streets of Orlando, in the state of Florida.
Over the course of almost four years, motorcycle riders in the main Brazilian cities have become a political action adopted by the current federal government. Although, in many cases, these motorcyclists are somewhat emptied and accompanied by boos, this is a way found by the current federal government to challenge local opposition governments and emulate in the media a popular support that it lacks. Of course, with public money.
Videos and photos of the motorcycle rider in Orlando reveal an audience of mostly white, middle-aged men, wearing yellow-green shirts and riding large motorcycles. Produced by Brazilian organizations in Florida, the motorcycle was part of a State agenda that began with the participation of the Summit of the Americas, in Las Vegas. Then the president inaugurated the Brazilian vice consulate in Orlando.
In another speech, he emphasized his commitment to defending the Brazilian family, private property, freedom of weapons and the fight against certain social minorities. He also emphasized that he and his audience are “normal people” and, more than oxygen, they need freedom. A freedom defended not only by motorcyclists, but by cheerleaders such as the “Power Granny of Las Vegas”. A group of 12 patriotic, well-nourished ladies who love to enjoy life and appear covered with the American flag.
Brazilians deported from the USA
The day before, June 10, the Confins international airport, in Minas Gerais, recorded the landing of the 64th plane chartered by the US government bringing Brazilian deportees from the United States. This is a process that had been suspended in 2008, but gained strength again during the administrations of Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro.
The first flight landed in October 2019 and, since then, we have reached the mark of 6,441 Brazilians deported. All flights arrive in Confins. Little information is given about the choice of this airport. Research suggests that, given the strong history of the existing migratory networks between Minas Gerais and the United States itself, the US government understands that the vast majority of these Brazilians are from or departed from there. Injuring reciprocity laws and national sovereignty, they imposed this measure and our government accepted it, with no return.
Newspaper articles show that there is no policy for receiving these Brazilians. Those who arrive in Minas Gerais must rely on their own resources or family networks to return to their respective states. This is the case presented on the history of Brazilians from states such as Rondônia.
Furthermore, reports of violence are constantly presented by these deportees, who are not few. Currently, there are 89,971 pending cases of Brazilians for deportation. The US fiscal year ends in September. The expectation is that the increase in the number of flights with deportees will grow until then. The vast majority are in the three main states that receive Brazilian migration: Massachusetts, New Jersey and Florida. The latter, the same as the motorcycle, has more than 9,000 Brazilians awaiting trial.
However, the numbers gain greater proportions when we follow the data provided by the Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. Between 2019 and 2021, it is possible to verify that 81,935 Brazilians were detained right on the borders of the United States. The vast majority, in the state of Texas, which suggests that they are accessing the US territory through migratory routes that cross Central America. All these Brazilians (169,698) were detained or/and are in prison for having crossed the US border in search of better living conditions.
Who are these Brazilians?
Certainly, we will have commentators on duty ready to give the verdict on this portion of invisible Brazilians here and there. They will say that they are people who bring shame to the country; “illegal” migrants who are infringing on US sovereignty. Therefore, detention and expulsion are more than legitimate measures promoted by the Trump and Biden administrations. This is securing your own freedom. It should be noted that our president, too, shares this premise.
We have a supposedly patriotic government, which unilaterally loosens the circulation of certain nationalities in Brazil, but silently accepts the mistreatment of undocumented Brazilians abroad. The surprise doesn’t end there. Both the presidency and one such federal deputy vehemently defended the construction of the wall to ensure “American” democracy.
But some of the questions we can ask are: Who are these deported Brazilians? What do they say about this Brazil? Why are the federal and mining governments silent about the way they are being deported?
Contrary to the adventurous scenario designed by various media, our international airports have become escape doors for many Brazilians who cannot resist the inflated rise in our cost of living, unemployment or informal employment, the successive cuts in sectors that are understood as “expenses”, such as health and education.
Guarulhos, Santos Dumont and Confins airports are some of these ports. Our social misery and economic inequality, which are accentuated again, camouflaged as a fight of good against evil, are stretched to the borders of the United States.
Brazilian emigrants walk through Central America, face violence and death, sneak through the desert, face currents, jump over fences and, finally, are stopped by US patrolmen and their war paraphernalia. They gain media spotlight in the United States. There, they are illegal like drugs or criminals, here a national embarrassment. Arrested, shamed and deported, they all return to Confins and, once again, are left to their own devices. Confins airport has become a revolving door, where our misery comes and goes.
Meanwhile, the motorbike in Orlando scratches the asphalt and draws a Banana Republic for the gringo to see. Hallucinating, with full stomachs and comfortably seated on their powerful motorcycles, patriots parade through Orlando making it clear, once again, that the so-called “Beloved Homeland, Brazil” is not for everyone.
