A Brazilian law professor’s academic tenure in the United States concluded abruptly this week as Carlos Portugal Gouvêa returned to his home country following the revocation of his visa. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the departure of the Harvard Law visiting scholar, who faced allegations of discharging a BB gun near a Massachusetts synagogue during Yom Kippur observances in October.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities apprehended Professor Gouvêa on Wednesday, after which he consented to voluntary departure rather than undergoing formal deportation proceedings. His legal representative, Joseph D. Eisenstadt, verified that his client had arrived in Brazil by Thursday.
The incident that precipitated these developments occurred on October 1st, when Brookline Police responded to Temple Beth Zion following reports of an armed individual during the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. According to official documents, private security personnel guarding the temple reported hearing multiple shots and observed Gouvêa positioned behind a tree with what appeared to be a rifle. The subsequent confrontation between the professor and responding officers resulted in a physical altercation.
While Homeland Security officials characterized the episode as an antisemitic attack, Temple Beth Zion issued a statement days after the incident suggesting the shooting appeared unrelated to religious animus. Law enforcement initially indicated that Gouvêa claimed unawareness of both the synagogue’s proximity and the religious significance of the day, stating he had been targeting rodents.
Legal proceedings saw most charges against Gouvêa dismissed last month, with the professor accepting pretrial probation for six months on a single misdemeanor count of illegally discharging a BB gun. The agreement included restitution payment for damaged property but maintained his not guilty plea. Successful completion of the probation period would result in administrative dismissal of the remaining charge.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at Homeland Security, emphasized that working and studying in the United States constitutes a privilege rather than a right. She stated, ‘There is no room in the United States for brazen, violent acts of anti-Semitism like this. They are an affront to our core principles as a country.’
Harvard Law School’s website listed Gouvêa as a visiting professor scheduled to teach courses on corruption, inequality, and sustainable capitalism during the fall 2025 semester. The University of São Paulo, where Gouvêa serves as an associate professor, previously issued a statement defending his character and noting his advocacy for human rights and connections to the Jewish community. Harvard University declined to comment on the developing situation.