Citizenship

Moraes' wife will not be able to enter the US even with an Italian passport

Viviane Moraes is subject to US sanctions and cannot enter the country, even though she has Italian citizenship.

Published

20 hours ago

Even with Italian citizenship, Alexandre de Moraes' wife is prohibited from entering the United States.

Viviane Barci de Moraes, wife of the minister of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, was banned from entering the United States. The measure applies even if she tries to access the country with passport Italian, through the visa waiver system known as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).

The decision is part of the sanctions applied this Monday, 22, by the US government, based on the Magnitsky Act - a legal instrument used to punish foreigners accused of violating human rights or involvement in corruption.

Viviane was included on the list because, according to the US, she offered a "financial support network" to her husband. Moraes was also targeted by the same legislation in July of this year. As a result, both face severe restrictions, such as the freezing of assets in the US, the cutting off of access to international financial services, and a ban on entering the country.

Italian citizenship does not guarantee access

Viviane's inclusion on the sanctions list prevents her from entering the US even through alternative routes. Italian citizens, like her, can enter the country without a visa through the ESTA program, which allows short stays for tourism or business. However, the penalty imposed nullifies this right.

The case is similar to that of the Attorney General of the Republic, Paulo Gonet, who has dual citizenship with passport Portuguese. Gonet had his entry authorization to the USA suspended, according to information from Portuguese authorities, and released this Monday (22) by the Poder 360 portal. Now, even with a Portuguese passport, he will not be able to obtain a visa.

Viviane Barci next to her husband, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, and President Lula

“Financial death penalty”

The Magnitsky Act has global effects and is often referred to by experts as the “financial death penalty.” It freezes accounts, cards, transactions, and limits the banking operations of its targets. In August, the newspaper The Globe reported that Moraes had two Visa and Mastercard cards canceled by Banco do Brasil. The institution offered Brazilian-branded cards as an alternative.

With Viviane's inclusion, the impact could be even greater, also affecting her financial transactions and international travel. Documents show that she visited the US several times since 2016. Her stays were short, always on dates close to her husband's.

Viviane's previous trips to the USA

The latest entries and exits of Viviane Barci de Moraes in the United States, according to an official document from the American government, were: