BOSTON – Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a visiting law professor from Brazil at Harvard University, has left the United States following the revocation of his visa by federal officials. Gouvêa was involved in a controversial incident during Yom Kippur, when he fired a pellet gun near Temple Beth Zion in Brookline.
After being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Gouvêa volunteered to depart the country instead of facing deportation. His attorney confirmed that he arrived back in Brazil on Thursday.
The incident on October 1, which drew significant attention, occurred when police responded to reports of a “person with a gun.” Witnesses from the temple reported hearing at least two loud shots. Gouvêa was found behind a tree holding a pellet rifle, and he reportedly claimed he was “shooting at rats” in the neighborhood.
Although Homeland Security officials labeled the incident as antisemitic, Temple Beth Zion stated publicly that it appeared unmotivated by antisemitism, according to feedback they received from local police. Initial responses indicated that Gouvêa may not have realized he was shooting near a religious site during one of Judaism's holiest days.
Notably, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, remarked that there is “no room in the United States for brazen, violent acts of anti-Semitism,” reinforcing the seriousness of the matter as an affront to the national principles.
The Brookline police report noted Gouvêa’s struggle with an officer, further complicating the event’s narrative. Initially charged with three misdemeanors and one felony related to the incident, Gouvêa later had most charges dropped as part of a plea agreement, allowing him to remain on probation with a restitution order of around $386.
As Gouvêa's tenure at Harvard hung in the balance, the university declined to comment on the situation. The professor, noted for his work in law and justice, had been slated to teach classes that emphasize issues like corruption and sustainable capitalism.
The director of the University of São Paulo’s Law School, where Gouvêa also serves as an associate professor, condemned the accusations against him, citing his advocacy for human rights and connections to the Jewish community.
This incident has raised questions about international academic exchanges and the implications of such actions on reputations and relationships between educational institutions across borders.
