April 14 (V7N) – Alexandre Ramagem, Brazil's former intelligence chief, was released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday after being detained for two days. Ramagem, 53, had been wanted in Brazil following his conviction for his involvement in a failed coup attempt aimed at keeping former President Jair Bolsonaro in power after the 2022 elections.

Ramagem, who headed Brazil’s intelligence agency ABIN from 2019 to 2022, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for charges including armed criminal association, attempted coup d’état, and attempting to violently abolish Brazil's democratic rule of law. Despite this, reports indicate he managed to escape Brazil, crossing the border into Guyana before entering the United States with a diplomatic passport.

He was detained by ICE agents on Monday, following a formal request for his extradition from Brazilian authorities in December. The arrest came after Brazilian police confirmed he was a fugitive from justice in connection with his role in the coup plot.

However, Brazilian media outlets reported on Wednesday that Ramagem had been released from custody. The details surrounding his release remain unclear, with no specific comment from ICE. A search of ICE databases yielded no information regarding his current status, raising questions about the circumstances of his release.

Ramagem’s former ally, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, posted on social media confirming his release, saying, "Ramagem is out and at home."

The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has expressed its intention to continue pursuing Ramagem's extradition, despite his release in the United States.

This incident marks a significant chapter in the ongoing tensions between the United States and Brazil regarding fugitives linked to the 2022 Brazilian political crisis.

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