Antonio Jose De Abreu Vidal Filho, a former state police officer in Brazil, is arrested in the U. S. for his involvement in the murder of 11 teenagers. His case is noted as a significant failure in U. S. immigration vetting processes, increasing awareness of these lapses.
1. Background and Charges: De Abreu was part of the Ceara State Military Police and participated in the "Slaughter of Curió" massacre in November 2015, where 11 teenagers were killed. He and 34 others were charged in 2016 for this mass killing that had no links to the police officer’s death that triggered the retaliation.
2. Escape to the U. S. : After being released pending trial in May 2017, De Abreu applied for a B2 tourist visa, falsely claiming he had never been arrested. His visa was approved less than two weeks later due to a lack of proper background checks by U. S. authorities.
3. Life in the U. S. : De Abreu settled near Boston and applied for asylum in January 2020, continuing to hide his criminal past. He obtained a driver’s license, Social Security card, and work authorization without proper vetting by U. S. agencies.
4. Conviction in Brazil: On June 25, 2023, he was convicted in Brazil for his crimes and sentenced to over 275 years in prison. An international arrest warrant was issued, which eventually led to his discovery by U. S. authorities.
5. Risk to Public Safety: U. S. prosecutors emphasized that De Abreu posed a serious danger to the community given his prior convictions for violent acts in Brazil.
The entry of De Abreu into the U. S. despite serious charges underscores significant flaws in immigration vetting processes, calling for urgent reforms to prevent such security breaches in the future. His arrest after the discovery highlights the importance of thorough background checks on applicants for visas and asylum.
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