The cousin of Matheus Fernandes Machado, 28, from Goiás, who is imprisoned in the United States after trying to enter the country illegally, declared that the influencer should be transferred this Wednesday (23). She published a video on social media saying she doesn't know where he should be taken (see above).
On Tuesday (22), Ludmilla Machado, the influencer's cousin, made posts saying she was worried, as she had not received a call from her cousin throughout the day. However, this Wednesday (23), she stated that she managed to speak to Matheus in a brief call.
"It was very quick. And at the end of the conversation, I was very worried because he said: 'Cousin, I'm going to have to pack my things quickly because it looks like they're going to transfer me to another place'. So I don't know, it looks like he's going to be transferred to another detention", he explained.
In a note to g1, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that Matheus entered the country illegally on September 5th and was located by agents on the 14th of the same month, being arrested by the Border Patrol on suspicion of illegal re-entry (read the full note at the end of the text).
Ludmilla had been reporting that she was having difficulty locating which unit Matheus was in, but with the last contact, she declared that she managed to find her cousin.
She highlighted that, now that she has managed to locate the case number and unit where her cousin is detained, she will contact a lawyer.
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Og1 requested a new note from ICE asking what should happen to Matheus in the coming days and whether there is a possibility of deportation, but did not receive a response until the last update of this report.
Understand the case
Influencer Matheus was arrested in the United States after trying to enter the country via the border with Mexico. In a call to his cousin, he described the place where he is being held as “hell”. "He told me, he said: 'Cousin, this is hell. I can't handle it here'", he declared.
According to Ludmilla, the family's fear is that, in case of deportation, he will be sent to another country.
Contacts with Matheus have been made via phone call. Ludmilla highlighted that he constantly cries on the phone reporting the problems he has faced in prison.
"He's there with 10 men in prison, because there are several cells, from what he told me. There are not just ICE prisoners there, for immigration. There are robbers, there are rapists, there are killers, all together with Matheus", he said.
According to her, the family's fear is that, in case of deportation, he will be sent to another country. "They are deporting to other countries, so we don't even know what could happen and whether they will send it to Brazil", he detailed.
Influencer from Goiás is arrested in the United States, according to his family — Photo: Reproduction/Instagram by Matheus Fernandes
ICE note
"On September 14, ICE agents encountered Matheus Fernandes Machado, 28, an illegal immigrant from Brazil, after U.S. Border Patrol arrested him on illegal re-entry charges. Machado entered the U.S. illegally on September 5, 2026, near the Rio Grande. He remains in ICE custody pending removal.
Being detained is a choice. We encourage all illegal immigrants to take control of their departure with the CBP Home app. The United States is offering illegal immigrants $3,000 and a free ticket to self-deport now.
We encourage everyone here illegally to take advantage of this offer and book the chance to return to the US the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported with no chance of returning.
ICE will continue to execute the Trump Administration's enforcement priorities by identifying, arresting, and removing illegal immigrants who violate U.S. law."
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