US imposes travel ban on Brazilian Supreme Court Justices involved in persecuting Bolsonaro

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday announced that the United States has revoked visas for Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his allies and family, for allegedly persecuting the country's former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The decision to impose a travel ban on the justices comes after Brazilian police raided Bolsonaro's home earlier Friday and Brazil's Supreme Court ordered him to wear an electronic ankle tag over concerns he poses a flight risk ahead of his upcoming criminal trial.

Bolsonaro was also not allowed to speak to foreign officials, approach embassies, or use social media, CNN reported.

Rubio slammed Brazil's Supreme Court's alleged persecution of Bolsonaro, stating it "not only violates basic rights of Brazilians, but also extends beyond Brazil's shores to target Americans."

"[President Trump] made clear that his administration will hold accountable foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States," Rubio posted to X. "Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes's political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro created a persecution and censorship complex so sweeping that it not only violates basic rights of Brazilians, but also extends beyond Brazil's shores to target Americans. 

"I have therefore ordered visa revocations for Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members effective immediately," he added.

Bolsonaro has been accused of plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election to stay in power, which he denies, and of conspiring with the U.S. government to impose sanctions against Brazilian officials.

The travel ban is not the first action the Trump administration has taken in response to Bolsonaro's alleged persecution. Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports last week, citing the legal cases against the former president.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.