Visa Issue Threatens U.S.-Brazil Cooperation on Crime

A diplomatic rift is hindering cooperation between the United States and Brazil on jointly fighting organized crime, according to U.S. and Brazilian officials, an issue the Trump administration has placed at the center of its agenda in the Western Hemisphere.

The State Department is withholding visas for two Brazilian federal police agents assigned to posts in the United States, where they would be working with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and other federal agencies to combat transnational crimes, according to one American and three senior Brazilian officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

In response, Brazil is now also blocking the visa of a U.S. law enforcement official meant to be stationed in the country, according to the American and Brazilian officials.

The U.S. government, citing a busy agenda, also declined a request for a visit by Brazilian customs and revenue agents investigating money laundering and arms smuggling by international drug gangs, according to two other Brazilian officials.

Brazil and the United States have a long history of jointly investigating international crimes, like fraud and trafficking, and sending law enforcement officials to each other’s countries. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has had an attaché in Brazil for over two decades.

In the past, joint action by Brazil and the United States has helped the authorities dismantle international corruption schemes, piracy networks and human trafficking rings.