Pro-Trump Brazilian Influencer Detained by ICE After Earlier Claiming Only 'Criminals' Face Deportation
In a twist underscoring the volatile nature of U.S. immigration enforcement, a Brazilian social media influencer known for his staunch support of former President Donald Trump's border policies has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Eustáquio 'Júnior' Pena, 34, was taken into custody Saturday in New Jersey, according to reports from The Brazilian Times. Sources close to Pena indicate the detention stems from an administrative error: a postponed immigration hearing was not properly logged, causing him to be marked as absent when he failed to appear.
Pena, who amassed 1.3 million TikTok and nearly 500,000 Instagram followers by documenting the "American reality" for immigrants, had been an outspoken online advocate for Trump. Following Trump's 2025 inauguration and the launch of a renewed immigration crackdown prioritizing removals from Latin America, Pena assured his predominantly Brazilian audience that only "crooks" were being targeted. "Many influencers are spreading fear without facts," he asserted in a recent video, dismissing concerns over the policy's breadth.
His rhetoric aligned with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's repeated insistence that operations focus on "the worst of the worst." However, data from the non-partisan Deportation Data Project reveals a shift: by mid-October, during raids concentrated in Democrat-led cities, the share of detainees with criminal convictions had fallen to approximately 28%.
The backdrop is a record year for Brazilian deportations. A December report citing Brazil's Federal Police noted 2,268 nationals were removed from the U.S. in 2025—the highest figure since such records began in 2020.
Pena, who entered the U.S. in 2009, is currently held at the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark. His attorney, Andrew Lattarulo, is working to prevent his transfer out of state while contesting the detention. Meanwhile, friends have launched a fundraising campaign, which met its $32,000 goal Monday, to cover his legal expenses.
The case has ignited fierce debate online. Maria Chen, a immigration policy analyst in D.C., offered a measured take: "This is a tragic example of system failure, not irony. It shows how procedural errors can ensnare anyone, regardless of their political stance. The focus should be on fixing these bureaucratic flaws that affect thousands."
Rico Salazar, a construction foreman and immigrant rights activist in Phoenix, reacted with anger: "He spent years telling our community not to worry, that only the 'bad ones' get caught. Now he knows the truth—this system doesn't care who you support. It's designed to deport people, full stop. His hypocrisy is breathtaking, but my sympathy is for the families torn apart by the policies he cheered on."
Dr. Anya Sharma, a sociology professor at the University of Chicago, commented: "Pena's narrative sold a simplistic, meritocratic version of the American dream that collapses under systemic scrutiny. His detention lays bare the gap between political rhetoric and the on-the-ground reality of immigration enforcement, which is often arbitrary and unforgiving."
ICE and Pena's legal representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.