Harvard Law Professor Detained by ICE After Boston Synagogue Incident Agrees to Leave U.S.
BOSTON, Mass. — Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a Harvard Law School visiting professor and Brazilian national, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week following his involvement in a BB gun shooting incident outside a Boston-area synagogue in early October. According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Gouvêa agreed to voluntarily leave the United States rather than face formal deportation proceedings.
The incident occurred on October 2, the day before Yom Kippur, when Gouvêa allegedly fired a BB gun near the synagogue. Authorities reported that Gouvêa told law enforcement he was “hunting rats” at the time. He was subsequently charged with illegal use of an air rifle, a misdemeanor offense, for which he received six months of pretrial probation. Other charges, including disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, and vandalism, were dismissed.
Following the shooting, Harvard University suspended Gouvêa pending an internal investigation. The university’s action came amid concerns raised by synagogue leaders, who clarified that the shooting was not motivated by antisemitism. The Department of Homeland Security later revoked Gouvêa’s temporary non-immigrant J-1 visa, citing the incident as grounds for removal.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the act, emphasizing that “there is no room in the United States for brazen, violent acts of antisemitism like this,” calling such behavior an affront to American values and a threat to law-abiding citizens. She further stated that the U.S. is under no obligation to admit or retain foreigners who commit such reprehensible acts. Secretary Kristi Noem echoed this stance, warning that individuals who engage in anti-American or antisemitic violence will not be tolerated in the country.
Gouvêa holds a full-time position as an associate professor at the University of São Paulo Law School and serves as CEO of IDGlobal in Brazil. His visiting role at Harvard was part of an academic exchange. The university has faced scrutiny in recent years over campus activism and disciplinary policies, with some students alleging leniency toward protests that have been perceived as antisemitic.
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE Boston Enforcement and Removal Operations coordinated the arrest and removal process. Gouvêa’s voluntary departure avoids a formal deportation hearing, underscoring the government’s increasing focus on immigration enforcement related to public safety concerns.
The incident has sparked broader discussions about campus security, immigration enforcement, and the responsibilities of foreign nationals studying and working in the United States. Harvard’s suspension of Gouvêa remains in effect as the university continues its review.
For more information on immigration enforcement policies and visa revocations, see the ICE official website and the Department of Homeland Security portal.
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