Former Brazilian Intelligence Chief Alexandre Ramagem Detained by ICE in US

Former Brazilian intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the United States. The agency reported the detention on its website on Monday, April 13, 2026.

Ramagem, a former Federal Police inspector and politician, fled Brazil in September 2025. His departure followed a conviction for his role in a plot to overturn the 2022 election victory of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Conviction and Legal Status

In September 2025, Ramagem was sentenced to 16 years, 1 month, and 15 days in prison. The sentence was the result of a trial held from September 8 to September 11, 2025, regarding the 2022–2023 Brazilian coup plot.

His convictions include attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, attempted coup d’état, and participation in an armed criminal organization. He was also convicted of qualified damage and the deterioration of protected heritage property.

Following the sentencing, Ramagem was removed from his seat in the Chamber of Deputies, where he had served since February 1, 2023, representing the constituency of Rio de Janeiro. He has been wanted by the Federal Police of Brazil since November 26, 2025.

Career and Political Background

Ramagem served as the Director-General of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) from July 11, 2019, to March 31, 2022, under the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Prior to his role in intelligence, he worked as a federal police officer and served as a coordinator for major events, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2016 Summer Olympics, and Rio+20. He is a graduate of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, having completed his studies in 2000.

Details of the U.S. Detention

While ICE confirmed the detention on April 13, 2026, the specific reason for the arrest remains subject to differing reports. Some sources indicate the arrest was for illegal immigration, while Paulo Figueiredo, an ally of Bolsonaro residing in the U.S., stated on X that the arrest resulted from a minor traffic violation.

It has not been verified if the detention is directly related to a request from Brazil to extradite Ramagem. His legal representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment, though Ramagem has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the coup plot.

Broader Political Context

The legal proceedings against Ramagem and other allies of Jair Bolsonaro had international implications. The case against Bolsonaro resulted in 29 convictions in September 2025, with the former president receiving a 27-year sentence.

U.S. President Donald Trump previously criticized the case, using it as justification to impose steep tariffs on Brazilian imports in 2025. Many of those tariffs were later lifted by Trump via an order signed on November 20, 2025.