Brazilian social media personality Júnior Pena, also known as Eustáquio da Silva Pena Júnior, has found himself on the wrong side of US immigration authorities after publicly defending a crackdown on migrants. The 30-year-old influencer, who boasts hundreds of thousands of followers across social media platforms, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New Jersey over the weekend.
Pena's support for Donald Trump's immigration policies was revealed in a recent video message, in which he claimed that only "crooks" were being targeted by the US president's efforts. However, his comments were widely criticized as false and misleading, particularly given his own experiences with the US immigration system.
The Brazilian influencer has been living in the US since 2009 and has been known to use his platform to share stories of migrants and voices critical of left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. However, his own actions have now led him down a path of reckoning with ICE agents.
Pena's arrest is part of a broader crackdown on Brazilian migrants in the US, which has been exacerbated by Trump's anti-migrant policies. According to recent reports, over 2,800 Brazilians were deported from the US last year, a record high.
The news of Pena's detention has sparked widespread outrage among left-wing Brazilians who have been following his social media account. Many took to Instagram and Twitter to taunt him for his support of Trump, with one critic writing "What goes around comes around." Friends of Pena have since reached out to his followers, asking them to offer prayers for the influencer.
Pena's lawyer is currently working to resolve the situation and prevent his client from being transferred to another state. However, it remains to be seen how this will play out, and what consequences Pena may face as a result of his actions.
Pena's support for Donald Trump's immigration policies was revealed in a recent video message, in which he claimed that only "crooks" were being targeted by the US president's efforts. However, his comments were widely criticized as false and misleading, particularly given his own experiences with the US immigration system.
The Brazilian influencer has been living in the US since 2009 and has been known to use his platform to share stories of migrants and voices critical of left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. However, his own actions have now led him down a path of reckoning with ICE agents.
Pena's arrest is part of a broader crackdown on Brazilian migrants in the US, which has been exacerbated by Trump's anti-migrant policies. According to recent reports, over 2,800 Brazilians were deported from the US last year, a record high.
The news of Pena's detention has sparked widespread outrage among left-wing Brazilians who have been following his social media account. Many took to Instagram and Twitter to taunt him for his support of Trump, with one critic writing "What goes around comes around." Friends of Pena have since reached out to his followers, asking them to offer prayers for the influencer.
Pena's lawyer is currently working to resolve the situation and prevent his client from being transferred to another state. However, it remains to be seen how this will play out, and what consequences Pena may face as a result of his actions.