U.S. Rule Prompts Tit for Tat in Brazil
Brazilian police fingerprinted and photographed arriving Americans at Sao Paulo’s airport Thursday in response to new rules requiring the same for Brazilians entering the U.S.
Federal Judge Julier Sebastiao da Silva had ordered the measure Monday in response to a new U.S. anti-terrorism regulation requiring citizens from 27 nations, including Brazil, to be fingerprinted and photographed when entering the United States.
The U.S. regulation is to take effect Monday at all 115 U.S. airports handling international flights and at 14 major seaports. It will allow instant checks on an immigrant’s or visitor’s criminal background.
On Wednesday, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry requested that Brazilians be removed from the U.S. list, warning that Brazil would consider treating U.S. citizens the same way upon their arrival.
“At first, most of the Americans were angered at having to go through all this, but they were usually more understanding once they learned that Brazilians are subjected to the same treatment in the U.S.,” said Wagner Castilho, press officer for the federal police in Sao Paulo.
Brazil also requires visas for U.S. citizens, in response to a similar requirement for Brazilians entering the United States.
At the airport in Rio de Janeiro, police said they were not ready to start fingerprinting Americans.
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