Washington: The United States government has announced the revocation of visas for Brazilian Solicitor-General Jorge Messias and five other high-ranking judicial officials, escalating tensions between Washington and Brasília in the aftermath of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s criminal conviction. The decision, seen as a direct rebuke of Brazil’s judicial actions, has drawn sharp criticism from Brazilian authorities and sparked concerns over the future of bilateral relations.
The visa revocations affect Jorge Messias, current Solicitor-General of Brazil; José Levi, former Solicitor-General; Benedito Gonçalves, former electoral court justice; Airton Vieira, auxiliary judge and Supreme Court aide; Marco Antonio Martin Vargas, former electoral court aide; and Rafael Henrique Janela Tamai Rocha, a senior judicial aide. These individuals are closely linked to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the trial that led to Bolsonaro’s conviction earlier this month. Justice de Moraes himself had previously been sanctioned by the Trump administration in July.
The move comes amid growing friction over Bolsonaro’s trial, in which he was convicted of attempting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies have denounced the conviction as politically motivated, framing it as a “witch-hunt” against conservative forces in Brazil. Meanwhile, Brazilian officials have defended the independence of their judiciary, insisting that the conviction was based on solid evidence and a fair legal process.
Analysts warn that the visa revocations may deepen diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This action follows earlier U.S. sanctions against Brazilian officials involved in Bolsonaro’s trial and appears to signal continued U.S. scrutiny of Brazil’s judicial system under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Brazilian leaders have criticized the sanctions and visa restrictions as undue interference in domestic affairs and reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the rule of law independently of external pressures.
The dispute underscores a broader pattern of friction between U.S. conservative elements and Brazil’s judicial and political institutions. While Washington has emphasized the protection of democratic norms, Brasília maintains that judicial independence must not be compromised by foreign influence. Observers suggest that ongoing tensions could impact trade, security cooperation, and diplomatic engagement if both sides fail to manage the disagreement through dialogue.
As the situation unfolds, attention now turns to potential responses from Brazil, with the international community closely watching whether this standoff will escalate or prompt renewed efforts at diplomatic negotiation.