BOSTON (AP) — A Harvard visiting law professor from Brazil, Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, has left the United States after his visa was revoked following a pellet gun incident near a synagogue during Yom Kippur. Gouvêa informed authorities he was shooting at rats when he fired the pellet gun in Brookline, Massachusetts, leading to his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Upon his arrest on Wednesday, Gouvêa consented to voluntarily depart rather than face deportation and returned to Brazil on Thursday, as confirmed by his attorney, Joseph D. Eisenstadt.
Initially viewed as an antisemitic act by Homeland Security, the local Temple Beth Zion reported that it appeared Gouvêa was unaware of the synagogue's proximity during the holiday. Temple representatives noted that Gouvêa claimed he was hunting rats and was unaware he was disturbing a place of worship. A police report indicated that security at the synagogue heard gunshots and detained Gouvêa, who later engaged in a brief struggle with authorities.
Despite pleading not guilty to various charges, Gouvêa reached a plea agreement, resulting in a six-month probation term for the illegal discharge of a BB gun. The majority of charges against him were dismissed. Further complicating matters, the Department of Homeland Security stated that Gouvêa’s J-1 visa was revoked after the incident, deemed to breach the privileges of working and studying in the U.S.
Gouvêa was a visiting professor involved with courses on corruption and sustainable capitalism at Harvard, while simultaneously holding a teaching position at the University of São Paulo Law School, focusing on environmental justice. Harvard did not comment on the situation. Meanwhile, the University of São Paulo defended Gouvêa against the allegations, highlighting his ties to the Jewish community and his long-standing advocacy for human rights.
Initially viewed as an antisemitic act by Homeland Security, the local Temple Beth Zion reported that it appeared Gouvêa was unaware of the synagogue's proximity during the holiday. Temple representatives noted that Gouvêa claimed he was hunting rats and was unaware he was disturbing a place of worship. A police report indicated that security at the synagogue heard gunshots and detained Gouvêa, who later engaged in a brief struggle with authorities.
Despite pleading not guilty to various charges, Gouvêa reached a plea agreement, resulting in a six-month probation term for the illegal discharge of a BB gun. The majority of charges against him were dismissed. Further complicating matters, the Department of Homeland Security stated that Gouvêa’s J-1 visa was revoked after the incident, deemed to breach the privileges of working and studying in the U.S.
Gouvêa was a visiting professor involved with courses on corruption and sustainable capitalism at Harvard, while simultaneously holding a teaching position at the University of São Paulo Law School, focusing on environmental justice. Harvard did not comment on the situation. Meanwhile, the University of São Paulo defended Gouvêa against the allegations, highlighting his ties to the Jewish community and his long-standing advocacy for human rights.
