Portuguese citizen Hugo Freitas de Sousa detained by ICE

Hugo Freitas de Sousa, a 39-year-old Portuguese citizen from the Azores, is being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Tacoma, Washington. He was detained at the Canada-U.S. border while attempting to re-enter the United States after a trip to the Azores.

Despite possessing a valid ESTA travel authorization, de Sousa was detained. Reports indicate that authorities confiscated his mobile phones and alleged he intended to stay longer than permitted. While he has reportedly signed a voluntary repatriation document, he has initiated a hunger strike in protest, leading to concerns regarding his physical health.

The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Consulate General in San Francisco is in regular communication with U.S. authorities, though no specific timeline for his repatriation has been established. In Portugal, the political party Livre has formally questioned the government regarding the specific diplomatic measures being taken and the status of consular assistance provided to de Sousa.