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Rio de Janeiro to file suit over program singling out U.S. tourists
The city of Rio de Janeiro will file a lawsuit Wednesday demanding an end to Brazilâs new practice of fingerprinting and photographing U.S. tourists, Mayor Cesar Maia announced Tuesday, and the State Department seconded his complaint. Maia said the procedures, ordered by a Brazilian federal judge who was angered by new U.S. screening of Brazilian visitors, discriminate against Americans by treating them differently from other foreign visitors. In addition, Maia contended that Brazilâs federal government, not a judge, should be setting the countryâs immigration policies. "It is the country that loses because of this infantile anti-American policy," Maia said in an e-mail. City lawyers will seek immediate suspension of the judgeâs order, saying it harms Rioâs business and tourism interests and usurps federal powers. The city will seek compensation for damages if the order isnât overturned. The move came after Brazilian Federal Police officials, unprepared for their new fingerprinting and photographing duties, took as long as nine hours on Monday to process bleary-eyed U.S. citizens whoâd arrived on overnight flights to Brazil from New York and Miami.Posted by: TS 2004-01-07 |
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