In brief
Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a visiting law professor at Harvard, has left the U.S. after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revoked his visa due to a pellet gun incident near Temple Beth Zion during Yom Kippur. Despite being arrested, police initially suggested there was no antisemitic intent. Gouvêa claimed to be hunting rats. He faced several charges, but most were dismissed, leaving him on probation with restitution obligations. Both Homeland Security and Harvard have emphasized the seriousness of the incident, with Gouvêa's prior advocacy for human rights noted amidst the controversy.
BOSTON (AP) — Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a Harvard visiting law professor from Brazil, has left the United States after his visa was revoked following a pellet gun incident near a synagogue during Yom Kippur. Federal officials and Gouvêa's lawyer confirmed his voluntary departure on Thursday. Gouvêa had been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the day before, which led to the visa revocation.The incident, which took place on October 1, prompted concerns about antisemitism. However, in a statement, Temple Beth Zion in Brookline said the actions did not appear to be motivated by such sentiments. According to police reports, private security at the synagogue reported hearing shots and spotted Gouvêa behind a tree with a pellet gun. When approached by police, Gouvêa claimed he was shooting at rats.Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that the U.S. stands against violence and any form of antisemitism, calling the actions an affront to American principles. Gouvêa faced multiple misdemeanor and felony charges for discharging a BB/pellet gun without authorization, but most charges were dismissed. He was placed on probation as part of a plea deal.Despite the controversy, the University of São Paulo’s Law School Director defended Gouvêa, highlighting his history of advocating for human rights and his connections to the Jewish community. Harvard did not provide comments regarding Gouvêa’s current status. He is listed as a visiting law professor for the fall 2025 semester at Harvard, and he previously held significant academic positions in Brazil.
