Brazil’s Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC) has completed the first humanitarian repatriation of the year under its ‘Aqui é Brasil’ programme. Thirty-two Brazilian nationals deported from the United States landed at Belo Horizonte/Confins Airport late on 7 January and were processed on 8 January. The operation—co-ordinated with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Social Development and Health—delivered a reception package that includes temporary hotel accommodation, food, hygiene kits, medical screening and psychosocial support.
Officials highlighted that smaller cohort sizes allow for more individualised assistance than some 2025 flights that carried 80 plus passengers. After initial triage, travellers receive onward tickets to their home states and continued case-management for up to 90 days. According to MDHC project lead Carlos Ricardo, the focus is on "dignified reintegration" rather than a simple transfer from airplane to bus.
VisaHQ can play a preventative role for Brazilians considering work, study, or leisure abroad by streamlining the visa application process and clarifying admissibility rules before departure. Through its dedicated Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/), the company offers step-by-step instructions, document verification, and live support, helping travellers obtain the correct U.S. visas and thus lowering the risk of overstays that might ultimately lead to deportation.
![First 2026 ‘Aqui é Brasil’ Repatriation Flight Brings 32 Brazilians Home from the United States]()
The ‘Aqui é Brasil’ scheme was launched in 2019 amid a spike in U.S. removals of Brazilian overstayers. Since then, 38 charter flights have returned more than 3,100 citizens. The programme is funded jointly by federal agencies and leverages partnerships with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for logistical support.
For mobility and relocation teams, the flights serve as a reminder that Brazilians who exhaust legal options abroad may be subject to rapid deportation. Employers sponsoring Brazilian staff in the United States should double-check visa status and overstay risks, as removal orders are executed without prior notice to next of kin or corporate HR.
Looking ahead, MDHC says additional flights are planned “as needed.” The ministry is also exploring a digital portal that would let deportees upload travel histories in advance, speeding processing on arrival and improving data for reintegration services.
Officials highlighted that smaller cohort sizes allow for more individualised assistance than some 2025 flights that carried 80 plus passengers. After initial triage, travellers receive onward tickets to their home states and continued case-management for up to 90 days. According to MDHC project lead Carlos Ricardo, the focus is on "dignified reintegration" rather than a simple transfer from airplane to bus.
VisaHQ can play a preventative role for Brazilians considering work, study, or leisure abroad by streamlining the visa application process and clarifying admissibility rules before departure. Through its dedicated Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/), the company offers step-by-step instructions, document verification, and live support, helping travellers obtain the correct U.S. visas and thus lowering the risk of overstays that might ultimately lead to deportation.
The ‘Aqui é Brasil’ scheme was launched in 2019 amid a spike in U.S. removals of Brazilian overstayers. Since then, 38 charter flights have returned more than 3,100 citizens. The programme is funded jointly by federal agencies and leverages partnerships with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for logistical support.
For mobility and relocation teams, the flights serve as a reminder that Brazilians who exhaust legal options abroad may be subject to rapid deportation. Employers sponsoring Brazilian staff in the United States should double-check visa status and overstay risks, as removal orders are executed without prior notice to next of kin or corporate HR.
Looking ahead, MDHC says additional flights are planned “as needed.” The ministry is also exploring a digital portal that would let deportees upload travel histories in advance, speeding processing on arrival and improving data for reintegration services.
