1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing to you today as a concerned constituent to voice my strong opposition to granting political asylum or safe harbor within our state to individuals from Brazil facing criminal charges, convictions, or investigations related to political violence, corruption, or anti-democratic activities. While the United States has a proud tradition of offering refuge to individuals genuinely fleeing persecution, this protection should never be extended to those attempting to evade lawful prosecution, judicial proceedings, or constitutional accountability in their home country. Brazil is an established, sovereign democracy with functioning judicial institutions. Shielding foreign actors facing legitimate criminal charges undermines the integrity of our legal system, damages international cooperation, and sends the wrong message regarding our state's commitment to the rule of law. Although asylum and immigration policies are governed primarily at the federal level, our state leaders hold significant sway. I urge you to: • Introduce or support state-level resolutions affirming our state's commitment to the rule of law and opposing harbor for foreign political criminals. • Coordinate with our federal delegation to ensure that federal authorities, including the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, rigorously vet and exclude foreign nationals who have participated in political violence or attempted to subvert democratic processes abroad. • Ensure state resources and local agencies are not utilized to facilitate safe haven for individuals evading judicial accountability. Our communities thrive on transparency, justice, and respect for legal governance. Granting political shelter to individuals attempting to escape justice in their home democracies sets a dangerous precedent. Thank you for your dedicated service to our district and for considering my views on this urgent matter. I look forward to hearing your position.