US grants green card to convicted Brazilian politician Eduardo Bolsonaro amid tariff tensions
The US granted permanent residency to Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former Brazilian congressman convicted of coercion, as Washington and Brasília clash over a 25% tariff on Brazilian goods.
Conviction and departure
Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former federal deputy whose mandate was revoked, was convicted by Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) for coercion in the course of a judicial process. The court handed down a sentence of four years and two months in prison. The conviction followed the sentencing of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, for attempting a coup d'état. Eduardo relocated to the United States in February 2025, before the legal proceedings against him concluded.
Green card amid tariff dispute
On 20 July 2026, the US government granted Eduardo Bolsonaro a green card, conferring permanent residency and the right to live, work, and study without special authorization. The decision lands at a moment of heightened diplomatic friction between the White House and the Planalto Palace. The United States recently raised tariffs on Brazilian products by 25%, a move that ApexBrasil estimates will affect €6.28 billion in Brazilian exports.
Influence in Washington
Since arriving in the US, Eduardo has deepened his ties with American politicians and officials. His advocacy was pivotal in the application of the Global Magnitsky Act against Brazilian public figures. The most emblematic case is that of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen investigations and trials involving the Bolsonaro family. The Magnitsky Act, originally enacted during the Obama administration to sanction Russian officials implicated in the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, was expanded in 2016 to apply globally. It now allows the US to impose asset freezes and entry bans on foreign individuals for human rights violations or significant corruption.
He is protected by the American Constitution.
Paulo Figueiredo, a friend and ally of the Bolsonaro family in the United States, told Folha de S. Paulo that the green card application was submitted at least a year ago. He argued that any future attempt to persecute or censor Eduardo could be viewed in the same light as actions that already triggered US sanctions against Brazil.
Any action of persecution or censorship, for example, against him, can fall into the same context as the actions that have already led to US sanctions against Brazil.
Extradition unlikely
Brazilian Supreme Court justices consider the extradition of Eduardo Bolsonaro a remote possibility, according to Folha de S. Paulo. Their assessment is grounded in the Trump administration's longstanding support for the Bolsonaro family. With permanent residency now secured, any Brazilian extradition request would encounter substantial legal and political hurdles in the United States.
