A 2-year-old American girl was deported from the United States to Brazil, despite having extensive documentation proving her citizenship. Elioni Gonçalves and her husband Edivan Borges dos Santos claim they were not given a choice in being deported as their immigration status is complex.
The family had fled to the US seeking asylum due to violence and corruption in Brazil. After receiving deportation orders, the couple was forced to return to Brazil without their daughter, Manu, who has American citizenship. The US government claims it’s the responsibility of Brazilian authorities to grant citizenship.
Manu’s immigration status is complicated, as she cannot be granted Brazilian citizenship through birth or consulate services. Officials are trying to find a third method to rectify her status, making her a “temporary” citizen until she turns 18. Meanwhile, Gonçalves struggles to provide her daughter with an American education and social life.
The deportation has sparked outrage among the couple’s lawyer and Brazilian officials, who question the US government’s assertion that Manu is not a citizen despite her documentation. The family faces uncertainty about their future in Brazil as they await a resolution to Manu’s immigration status.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/29/us-citizens-deported-immigration-trump-brazil