Brasília - The first 277 Brazilians who were deported from the United States for illegally entering the country arrived in Brazil yesterday on a Portuguese carrier, Air Luxor. The repatriation was the result of negotiations between the US Immigration and Naturalization Service and a commission from the Chamber of Deputies.

The commission, deputy João Magno (PT-MG) and senators Hélio Costa (PMDB-MG) and Marcelo Crivella (PL-RJ), visited prisons in Texas and Arizona where they arranged for all the Brazilians, except those being held on criminal charges, to return to Brazil.

Upon their arrival the deportees were screened and got medical examinations.

According to Magno, the objective of the whole process was to safeguard the dignity and the rights of Brazilian citizens anywhere in the world.

In the near future further flights should bring around 900 Brazilians home from the US. It is reported that a total of 1,627 Brazilian are in US immigration custody. (AB)