Brazil's fugitive former spy chief Alexandre Ramagem has been released from custody by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). ICE confirmed that it had detained Ramagem on Monday, but has yet to provide details regarding the reasons for his detention. The 53-year-old's name no longer appears on ICE's list of those in custody, as confirmed by BBC News Brasil. Ramagem is wanted in Brazil, where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his involvement in an attempted military coup aimed at keeping former President Jair Bolsonaro in power after he lost the 2022 election.
Having fled to the US in September 2025 to avoid imprisonment, Ramagem recently thanked US officials for their handling of his case. Bolsonaro's son Eduardo stated that Ramagem was now 'out and home', expressing support for his request for asylum in the United States. Reports from Brazilian media indicate that he was let go on Wednesday, although ICE has not commented on the release. Ramagem was one of seven co-conspirators convicted alongside Bolsonaro in relation to the military coup plot, and he is under investigation for allegedly misusing his position at Brazil's intelligence agency (Abin) to spy on Bolsonaro's critics, which he denies. Brazilian judicial authorities have branded Ramagem a fugitive, and the country's Supreme Court has sought his extradition from the US. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has stated that Ramagem must return to Brazil to serve his sentence.
Having fled to the US in September 2025 to avoid imprisonment, Ramagem recently thanked US officials for their handling of his case. Bolsonaro's son Eduardo stated that Ramagem was now 'out and home', expressing support for his request for asylum in the United States. Reports from Brazilian media indicate that he was let go on Wednesday, although ICE has not commented on the release. Ramagem was one of seven co-conspirators convicted alongside Bolsonaro in relation to the military coup plot, and he is under investigation for allegedly misusing his position at Brazil's intelligence agency (Abin) to spy on Bolsonaro's critics, which he denies. Brazilian judicial authorities have branded Ramagem a fugitive, and the country's Supreme Court has sought his extradition from the US. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has stated that Ramagem must return to Brazil to serve his sentence.
