Brazilian man detained by ICE vanishes from system, family desperate for contact on his birthday

The family of Matheus Silveira, a Brazilian national detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reported this Tuesday (27) they have lost contact with him, as his name disappeared from the official U.S. immigration system. His wife, Hannah Silveira, has been unable to obtain any information regarding his whereabouts, sparking considerable distress.

The last conversation between the couple occurred on Sunday evening (25) around dinner time. Since then, communication ceased unexpectedly, leaving Hannah deeply concerned about her husband’s safety and status within the detention system. Adding to the urgency, this Tuesday marks Matheus’s birthday, intensifying his wife’s hopes for a desperately awaited contact.

Uncertainty Grips Family After ICE Transfer

Hannah Silveira explained that detainees typically use a specific application for communicating with their families. However, upon attempting to access Matheus’s account the following morning, the platform indicated that his contact was no longer available, signifying an abrupt cessation of communication channels.

When Hannah contacted the detention center directly, she was initially informed that Matheus was no longer listed in their system and might be in the process of release. This information, while initially offering a glimpse of hope, quickly dissolved into deeper confusion as no further details or confirmation were provided regarding his actual status or location.

Subsequently, representatives from the Brazilian consulate and a legal counsel promptly visited the facility to try and locate Matheus. They were met with the new information that he had been transferred to another state, a development that further obscured his exact location and complicated efforts to establish contact.

Complexities of Transfer and Deportation

Matheus Silveira had previously expressed apprehension about the possibility of being moved to an unknown location, a concern that now appears to have materialized. According to his wife, the expectation was that he would be transferred this Tuesday to Louisiana, where he is slated to await a flight for deportation back to Brazil.

However, family members argue that since a court had authorized Matheus’s voluntary departure, he should be entitled to return to Brazil via a commercial flight rather than being subjected to a deportation flight. This distinction is crucial for the family, although Matheus will still face a mandatory 10-year ban from re-entering the United States regardless of the flight type.

Matheus and Hannah’s Immigration Journey

Hannah, an American citizen, married Matheus in 2024 after they met in 2022 when she moved to California to study law, following a career as a paramedic in the Army. Matheus’s student visa reportedly expired during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the couple filed for a green card in 2024, subsequent to their marriage. His detention has now extended for approximately two months.

Harsh Detention Realities and Family’s New Path

During his period of detention, Matheus has reportedly experienced significant weight loss and faced restrictions on his diet, as conveyed by his wife. These conditions have added another layer of distress to an already fraught situation for the family.

Matheus signed the self-deportation agreement last week, with the understanding that the entire process should be finalized within a few weeks. This decision marked a somber turn in their fight to keep him in the U.S.

In light of the ongoing situation and the financial burden incurred throughout the legal and immigration processes, Hannah Silveira has made the difficult decision to move to Brazil. She plans to reorganize her professional life there to be with her husband.

To cope with the substantial costs associated with this international relocation, Hannah has initiated an online crowdfunding campaign. The fundraiser aims to gather necessary financial support for their upcoming move and to help them rebuild their lives together in Brazil.