A shocking incident at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago recently led to the deportation of a former Brazilian beauty queen.
Francielly Ouriques was en route to California for the 2025 Coachella festival when she was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents on April 10.
What initially seemed like an ordinary travel experience soon took a dramatic turn.
Interception and Questioning
Ouriques, who was connecting at O’Hare, was pulled aside for a secondary inspection before her flight to California.
In a video she posted on social media, she shared her experience of being taken to a room for questioning
. She later learned that one of the reasons behind her detention was that she had been carrying luggage for a friend.
However, the real issue came to light when agents found four tablets of Tramal, a pain medication that is illegal in the U.S.
“I didn’t know,” Ouriques explained, “If I had known, I would never have had it in my purse.”
She was unaware that the medication was prohibited and was devastated by the discovery.
Long Wait and Visa Revocation
Ouriques described spending a stressful five hours in a room with other foreign travelers while her phone was examined.
The situation escalated when CBP agents decided to revoke her tourist visa.
The agents claimed she was suspected of illegal employment in the U.S. and deemed her a threat to national security.
Ouriques explained that during a previous visit to the U.S. in 2024, she had discussed with a former boyfriend the idea of starting a business together.
The agents found messages related to her business discussions and concerns about her visa status, which led to further scrutiny.
“So my access was denied, and my visa was going to be canceled,” she said.
Mistreatment and Trauma
The ordeal took a toll on Ouriques, who was subjected to 15 hours in a freezing, three-square-foot cell.
The only sustenance she was offered was a bottle of water and a box meal.
“I was treated like a bandit,” she recalled. “It was complete humiliation.”
Eventually, Ouriques was escorted in a CBP vehicle to a United Airlines terminal, where she was put on a flight back to Brazil. Her passport was not returned to her until the flight landed.
Seeking Help in Brazil
Upon her return to Brazil, Ouriques sought advice from Brazil’s Federal Police on how to handle her deportation.
Unfortunately, she was told that they had no jurisdiction over the matter.
Feeling vulnerable and unprotected, she expressed her fear and trauma. “I felt completely unprotected, very scared, and now totally traumatized,” she said.
“I decided to share this experience so others can be careful when traveling to the U.S.”
The Deportation Fallout
Ouriques has since questioned whether she will ever attempt to visit the United States again.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection explained that her deportation was due to inconsistencies in her statements during the interview.
“She was inadmissible based on statements made during her interview that were not consistent with the purpose of her visa,” the official stated.
Ouriques’ deportation sparked mixed reactions. Some of her followers were quick to point out that she had previously celebrated the victory of former President Donald Trump.
“I remember when you posted celebrating the victory of the splendid Donald Trump,” one follower commented.
Others chimed in, suggesting that this was Trump’s way of welcoming her back.
Ouriques’ story serves as a reminder of the complexities and risks involved in international travel, especially when faced with legal issues at the border.