Fugitive former Brazilian intelligence chief released after being detained by ICE, associates say | CNN

Brazil’s fugitive former intelligence chief and lawmaker Alexandre Ramagem has been released from custody after being detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, his associates said Wednesday. Ramagem, who faces a 16-year prison sentence in Brazil for his alleged involvement in a coup plot with far-right ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, has been living in exile in Florida in recent months. His release was announced by journalist Paulo Figueiredo, an ally of Bolsonaro, and by the former president’s son Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has also been living in exile in the US. Both men credited US President Donald Trump and his administration for the release. Figueiredo said Ramagem will not face any criminal proceedings, claiming authorities had verified he has legal status in the US. ICE’s website said Monday that Ramagem was “in ICE custody,” but did not provide further details. By Wednesday night, his name no longer appeared in the agency’s online detainee locator system. In earlier comments to CNN, Figueiredo had said that Immigrex, a company where he is a partner, was providing legal representation to Ramagem. He said Ramagem had been detained after a traffic stop and subs